Movember at Portsmouth: How Students Raised Thousands for Men’s Health

The Movember movement began in 2003 with a powerful goal: fund life-changing men’s health projects around the world. More than two decades later, it has grown into a global campaign supporting mental health initiatives, suicide prevention services and research into prostate and testicular cancer. The need is urgent; across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute and 10.8 million men worldwide are currently living with a prostate cancer diagnosis. 

Every November, millions of people join the cause by donating or taking part in activities, such as Grow a Moustache, Move for Mental Health and Host a Mo-Ment. This year, students clubs and groups in Portsmouth truly rose to the challenge, raising £6543 (as of week beginning 24 Nov - follow updates at @uopmovember). A massive congratulations to everyone involved and thank you for your incredible hard work and contributions 👏. 

If you’re finding things difficult, please remember you’re not alone. UPSU and the University offer a range of support services. Our campaign, It’s OK not to be OK, brings together key information and guidance on where to find help, and the University’s wellbeing services are always available to support you. 

Now, let’s take a closer look at student-led activities across campus that made November 2025 such a success 👇

Shave Down 

The month kicked off in style with a classic Shave Down. £100 was added to the Movember pot as participants parted ways with their Mos, clearing the way for some top-tier moustache growth throughout November.

5K Everyday - Roj (@roj.sports)

For all 30 days of November, Roj invited students for a 30 minute group run designed to spark honest conversations about mental health. The idea behind “5K Everyday” is simple: if you can find 30 minutes to run, you can find 30 minutes to check in on a friend. It’s a powerful reminder that small, consistent actions can make a difference 👏. 

(Credits: @roj.sports)

Climbing (@uop_climbing)

They took on an Everest-level challenge: climbing 21,000 metres, the same distance from Everest Base Camp to the summit. On the day, they surpassed their target, reaching 22,190 metres, and raised £671.99, which was celebrated with well-earned cookies and a Movember cake. The team also joined Roj on one of his runs to keep the conversation on men’s mental health going strong. Across their activities, they raised a total of £889 👏. 

Darts (@uopdarts)

The Darts society shaved their Mos at the start of the month and proudly shared their progress along the way. Through enthusiastic fundraising and community support, they achieved an impressive £662, placing them 3rd on the university leaderboard 👏.

Poledancing (@uop_poledance)

Poledancing joined forces with other societies to bring more men into the sport. They invited members from American Football, Rugby and Dodgeball to give pole a try, supported the Climb Everest Challenge, co-hosted pub quizzes and organised their own Bring a boy to Pole event. Altogether, they raised £305 for the cause 👏. 

(Credits: @uop_poledance)

And that’s just a snapshot. So many more societies got involved and helped make Movember a success. Head to @uopmovember to see the full highlights!

Movember at Portsmouth was a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together with compassion, creativity and purpose. These student-led activities not only raised funds but also helped spark meaningful conversations about men’s mental health. 

If you’re struggling or simply need someone to talk to, please reach out. Support is available, and taking that first step is difficult but always worth it 💜🖤

(To find out more about the campaign, visit the official Movember website).