Question

Topic: Just for Fun

Looking For More Ideas To Raise Funds For A Mens Health Charity

Posted by Chris Blackman on 11/5/2009 at 4:24 PM ET 3000 Points
Hi KHE members and visitors

Don't think of this as a terrific cheek and waste of time, please just consider it as part of my unique charm and incredible chtuztpah! OK, don’t laugh. I am growing a moustache this year for Movember. I have joined a Movember Team at one of my NFP client organisations, Berry Street, and have put my razor on reduced duties for one month (November 2009) to help raise awareness and funds for men's health - specifically prostate cancer and depression in men.

What many people may not know is that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime - many of whom don't seek help. Facts like these have convinced me I should get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.

To sponsor my Mo, you can either:
* Click this link https://au.movember.com/mospace/65398/ to donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
* Write a cheque payable to 'Movember Foundation', referencing my Registration Number 65398 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 292, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia.

Please, don’t feel obliged, just because you know me :).

But if you can afford it, remember, even a very small amount will help and all donations over $2 are tax deductible for Australian taxpayers, probably in most other countries too.

Movember is now in its sixth year and, to date, has achieved some pretty amazing results by working alongside The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCFA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Check out further details at: https://au.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs. Movember is now also spreading internationally, so guys, it may not be too late to get involved where you live.

If you are interested in following the progress of my Mo, click here https://au.movember.com/mospace/65398/.

Also, https://au.movember.com has heaps of useful information.

Ah yes! And if you have other ideas on how I could garner more donations for this excellent cause, let me know here! And feel free to ReTweet this. Thanks!

Thank you

ChrisB
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by Levon on 11/5/2009 at 5:44 PM Accepted
    You should write a press release about this and send it out to the Australian press.
  • Posted by Levon on 11/5/2009 at 5:48 PM Accepted
    Actually I would write a series of press releases to get maximum exposure and increase your chances of getting picked up.
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 11/6/2009 at 8:01 AM Accepted
    How about creating a blog for this month's activity, take a picture of your face each day, and share your thought-of-the-day about Movember - things you've heard, read, or stories from you past? It'll be a bit more active than your Movember page.

    How about having people sponsor you for length of facial hair? People sponsor for miles / laps for physical endurance, why not for how much hair you grow? Sure it's silly, but it's also unusual.

    What caused you to team up with "Hairy Berry"? Is there a story here? Is their a group activity you can garner eyeballs for (singing barbershop quartet songs as an octet, etc.)?

  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 11/6/2009 at 6:51 PM Author
    Levon

    Actually the Movember Foundation organises a heap pf press releases and TV and Radio coverage in addition to their web activities in USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia (where it all began), New Zealand, UK, Ireland and much of Europe - see map at https://www.movember.com/?reset=1 so I'm not sure I can add much to that. They've also provide links to connect to Twitter, Facebook and e-mail.

    Jay, no real mystery there - the Hairy Berry team was started by a client colleague at one of my NFP client organisations www.berrystreet.org,au and I was asked to join their team. Actually some of my sponsors have made sponsorship conditional upon the Mo being shave off at the end of Movember, so maybe there's an opportunity to raise more money for some kind of public depilation event with the whole team. Nice idea... As for length of facial hair, I dunno, might need some kind of microscope to measure. One month isn't going to give anyone enough time for a Guinness Book of Records challenge, I don't think!

    Maybe a separate blog... You're right, that would give more scope for additional comment and a higher res picture than the Movember site provides. Will see if I can fit that in!

    Oh BTW guys, if you want to actually sponsor me, even if it's only a tiny little amount, that would be great. Just mention it on this thread and I'll share the pints to any donors, to add to that warm feeling you are helping a very good cause.

    Women get affected by these diseases too, indirectly, by association. I know several women who are now facing the rest of their lives without their husband and life partner because they have passed away prematurely as a result of prostate cancer.

    OK, anyone, any more ideas?

    Thanks

    ChrisB
  • Posted by telemoxie on 11/7/2009 at 10:45 AM Accepted
    as they say, when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

    I tend to look at these sorts of situations as opportunities to reach out to potential corporate clients.

    Could you use this campaign as an opportunity to survey regional companies regarding the impacts of male Depression and male health? Could these survey results become articles and press releases to help publicize your blog and consulting business? Could the process help you make new corporate contacts? If your surveys reveal corporate issues related to male health and male Depression at local large corporations, could these discoveries translate into consulting contracts?
  • Posted by steven.alker on 11/9/2009 at 6:00 AM Accepted
    Telemoxie’s got a really good point about reaching out to client organisations. When Edmund Tirbutt wrote his book, “Beat the Booze” I felt that it was worthy of publicising to all my marketing contacts because we are a bit of a high risk industry. Well it didn’t do his sales any harm and I got 4 complaints out of about 5000 emails, reducing to one complaint and three more orders for the book once I’d explained why I sent the email by way of reply.

    A good and worthy cause is a reason to reach out to a wider audience – just as you have done here. I’ll sponsor you with pleasure – the two causes are very worthy and both have too little publicity in planet man.

    Only if I can have a guarantee that you will at some point shave the damned thing off! A ‘tash on someone like Randall looks fine, but on you – it’ll make you look like a 1970’s Rank Xerox photocopier sales man!

    Steve Alker
    Xspirt
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 11/9/2009 at 5:54 PM Author
    SteveA

    Consider that guarantee gold-plated. If you visit the sponsorship page at https://au.movember.com/mospace/65398 you'll see my Mum made a donation on exactly the same condition. In fact, she demanded a refund if I don't shave it.

    Gotta tell you that ten days in, the itch is making me wish I could shave it off NOW!

    However, I am a team player, and the other ten guys will ostracize me if I don't go the distance.

    ChrisB
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 11/9/2009 at 6:00 PM Author
    Dave (Telemoxie)

    That's a great idea... Not sure I can organise that for this year though. Too many other commitments. Also, it's a bit of tenuous link between my strategic management consulting business and conducting health surveys. I'll have to think that one through.

    Thanks

    Chris
  • Posted by Chris Blackman on 11/16/2009 at 5:05 PM Author
    Marcus, that's hilarious. Maybe next Movember I can take the whole month off in support of the campaign.
  • Posted by steven.alker on 11/26/2009 at 10:24 AM Member
    Done and dispatched mate! Well done - it looks like your group is going all guns blazing for a superb concern.

    Steve

    PS Any chance of a photo of the 'tash just before you've shaved it off?
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