Wednesday, 02 December 2020
Students at the University of Nottingham have raised more than £110,000 for the annual Movember campaign – a record amount for the University, putting Nottingham among the top fundraisers nationwide.
The Movember campaign, which runs annually every November, is perhaps best known for its moustache growing challenges but has three key men’s health focusses; mental health, testicular cancer and prostate cancer. The leading charity hopes to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 15% by 2030.
Thousands of students took part in the 2020 campaign during the national lockdown, adapting and creating new ideas to stay in touch with their friends and team mates online. Many took up the challenge of ‘Move for Movember’ tracking their weekly walks, jogs and runs with some impressive individual challenges including a 48-hour long team run, marathons and 130km cycle rides.
Student’s Union Sports Officer Josie Jessop said: “It’s so important to put the spotlight on Men’s health, particularly mental health, so that those struggling within our community feel confident to speak out."
We’re so proud of how our students have come together during the national lockdown to raise awareness as well as fundraise with so many creative ideas.
Josie added: “I’d to say a huge thank you to everyone involved; from our Students’ Union officers, Karnival team and Movember ambassadors who drove the campaign to all the students and staff who fundraised and donated.”
Striving to achieve goals
Stand out efforts included the University of Nottingham Men’s Hockey club whose fundraising effort of more than £16,000 placed them into the top 20 Movember teams nationally.
The club ran a series of virtual challenges along the theme of ‘Move for Movember’ as well the traditional moustache growing competition. Some players even completed a marathon whilst others cycled for 130km in a single day.
Callum Bell, UoN Men’s Hockey president, commented: “UoN Men’s Hockey are so proud of the amount we’ve raised and the efforts of everyone at the University. The competition element really pushes us to strive for our goals, whether it’s growing a moustache or running a marathon! The community effort has given us focus during lockdown, allowed us to meet new people virtually and support each other during a really challenging time.
“Men’s mental health is so important to us and it’s amazing to think our fundraising could help our friends, family or even ourselves in the future.”
United during lockdown
Joshua Doyle, UoN Men’s Rugby president, whose club campaign raised an incredible £11,000 added: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Movember cause – thank you! Movember is very close to our hearts – staying on top of your mental wellbeing is so important especially at the moment and we know it’s something many club members find difficult. Our challenges have really united us – all five of our teams supported our 24-hour challenge and it was great to work together off the pitch.”
Donations for the 2020 campaign remain open until mid-December and can be made here: https://uk.movember.com/mospace/network/view/id/49097
Story credits
More information is available from Mark Bullock, Sports Marketing and Communications Manager by email at mark.bullock@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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