Our Story

20 YEARS OF CHANGING THE FACE OF MEN'S HEALTH

In 2003, you helped us start a movement for men's health. A movement that has since funded over 1,320 men's health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men.

We've taken on three of the biggest health issues affecting men: mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. As a result, men are living healthier, longer lives.

This movement started with 30 Mo Bros. Now, it claims a headcount of over 6 million. And we're not done yet.

DOWNLOAD OUR 20 YEARS OF MOVEMBER BOOKLET → 

TAKE A WALK THROUGH MOVEMBER'S HISTORY

Click on a year to get started. 



 


 




 




 

 

2003

Two mates (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) meet up for a quiet beer in Melbourne, Australia, and the idea that sparked Movember is born.

The moustache had all but disappeared from fashion trends. Could they bring it back? They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.

Movember's Origin Story: A Hairy Tale

 

Participating countries: Australia

30 Mo Bros

$0 raised

 


 


 




 




 

 

2004

Inspired by the Mo's ability to generate a conversation, the crew decide to take things to the next level. Adam Garone steps up to register Movember and create a website. Justin Coghlan (JC) comes on board to kickstart things in Queensland.

Funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). At the time, that first Movember cheque was the largest single donation the PCFA had ever received.

 

Participating countries: Australia

480 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $54,000 raised since 2003

6 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2005

Movember returns for another year and the Mo starts to gain some serious momentum in Australia.

Funds raised go to the PCFA who come on board as Movember’s first official men’s health partner.

 

Participating countries: Australia

9,795 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $1,229,000 raised since 2003

6 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2006

Movember receives official Australian charity status.

beyondblue becomes Movember’s second men’s health partner in Australia.

Movember officially launches in New Zealand in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ.

 

Participating countries: Australia and New Zealand

65,924 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $10,545,249 raised since 2003

29 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2007

Movember officially launches in the US in partnership with Prostate Cancer Foundation, in Canada with Prostate Cancer Canada, in the UK with The Prostate Cancer Charity and in Spain with FEFOC.

The Movember Board is formally established.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, UK and USA

200,095 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $32,084,118 raised since 2003

73 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2008

Movember Ireland is officially launched in partnership with the Irish Cancer Society. The Cancer Society of NZ and Mental Health Foundation of NZ become New Zealand’s men’s health partners.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, UK and USA

373,530 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $61,859,758 raised since 2003

152 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2009

Movember USA obtains official charity status and a second men’s health partner is added – the LIVESTRONG Foundation.

Through Movember funding, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center made a significant research breakthrough identifying that there are 25+ different kinds of prostate cancer.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, UK and USA

629,252 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $106,178,730 raised since 2003

254 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2010

Movember officially launches campaigns in South Africa in partnership with CANSA (Cancer Association of South Africa) and in Finland, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.

Movember launches its first directly funded project – the Global Action Plan, created to accelerate prostate cancer research outcomes through global collaboration.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA

1,077,060 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $178,165,978 raised since 2003

352 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2011

Movember officially launches campaigns in Belgium, Denmark and Norway, and obtains official charity status in Canada, England, Wales and Scotland.

Movember is ranked in the top 100 best NGOs (charity) in the world by the Global Journal based on three key main criteria: impact, innovation and sustainability.

Through Movember funding, the world’s first Prostate Cancer Genome Mapping Project is completed, expanding the understanding of how prostate cancer works.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, UK and USA

1,931,348 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $301,824,294 raised since 2003

511 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2012

Movember officially launches campaigns in Austria, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland.

Movember is again ranked in the top 100 best NGOs (charity) in the world by the Global Journal based on three key main criteria: impact, innovation and sustainability. To put that in context, there are an estimated 5 million NGOs around the world.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

3,058,500 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $443,302,826 raised since 2003

581 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2013

Movember is awarded the Social Force of the Year award from GQ Australia magazine.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

4,027,688 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $580 million raised since 2003

770 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2014

Movember was ranked 72nd out of the top 500 NGOs (non-governmental organisations) in the world.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

4,746,905 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $685 million raised since 2003

832 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2015

NGO Advisor ranks  Movember as 55th in the top 500 NGOs around the world.

The 2015 Innovation Index names the Movember the most innovative not-for-profit organisation in Australia.

The Movember becomes the first charity to receive cult brand status from The Gathering.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

5,232,625 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

AUD $770 million raised since 2003

1,320 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 






 






 

 

2016

Owen Sharp joins Movember as CEO, with extensive non-for-profit and men’s health experience – most notably as Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK.

In Canada, Australia and the UK, Movember launches the Social Innovators Challenge. The project aims to develop, pilot and evaluate 13 innovative projects to restore and strengthen the social connections of men, particularly those at risk of becoming socially isolated.

Movember unites with the National Breast Cancer Foundation Australia – funding research to transform the lives of both men and women. The move allows researchers to leverage genetic similarities between prostate, breast and ovarian cancers to create progress in treatment methods.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

5,232,625 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

1,320 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 







 







 

 

2017

The Movember receives a ranking of 49 out of the top 500 non-governmental-organisations around the world.

Movember funds three-part series ‘Man Up’, for the Australian television network, ABC. The project tackles gender stereotypes, the pressures of manhood, and most importantly why so many men are driven to suicide.

640,000 people tune in for each episode – sparking conversations across Australia and the world.

In the USA, the ‘Making Connections’ project is delivered across 16 sites. The $6M initiative connects men and boys within their communities to promote resilience across generations – working in particular with boys and men of colour, military members, veterans, and their families.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

5,542,507 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003 (and counting)

1,320 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2018

Movember and partner Beyond Blue trialled a programme offering free sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy for men struggling with their mental health and suicidal thoughts. The trial was successful and is now being rolled out nationwide, reaching more than 6.8m Australians.

Movember-funded scientists identified why the most common type of testicular cancer runs in some families – an important step forward in understanding the disease.  The discovery will help in counselling men who might be worried about their risk of developing testicular cancer. In future, it could inform future screening programmes for testicular cancer that might diagnose it earlier.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

5,864,482 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

Over 1,250 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 









 









 

 

2019

Movember was announced as the official delivery partner for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 (postponed until 2022) - the first ever international sporting event to have a mental health charter. The charter commits to delivering Movember’s Ahead of The Game mental fitness workshops to teenage athletes, their families and sports coaches. It also commits to delivering a mental fitness campaign that reaches millions of people worldwide.

FDA approval was granted to two drugs to treat advanced prostate cancer. Supported by Movember-funded research, Olaparib was hailed as the world’s first precision medicine for prostate cancer. Research funded by Movember also led to the approval of another drug called rucaparib for men with advanced BRCA-linked prostate cancer.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

6,263,923 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003 (and counting)

Over 1,250 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 




 




 

 

2020

To help address some of the long-term consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Movember announces funding for 34 separate projects that will support the mental health and wellbeing of men and boys. A mass media behaviour change campaign aimed at encouraging millions of young men to talk about their mental health, was also successfully launched.

Despite the huge strides being made in prostate cancer research, it is not easy for doctors to predict which tumours will become aggressive. Movember announces continued funding for the development of the PUR (Prostate Urine Risk) test, which shows doctors which men are likely to need active treatment within the next five years.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

6,538,699 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003

Over 1,250 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 














 














 

 

2021

Movember successfully launches Family Man, the world’s first online parenting programme designed with dads in mind, to improve their parenting confidence and knowledge. The Nunavut territory has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. To meet the needs of the Inuit population, Movember supports the launch of Canada’s first subarctic Indigenous mental health addictions centre in Churchill, Manitoba.

In a bid to reduce the number of men whose prostate cancer whose cancer progresses to an advanced stage, Movember announces a major collaboration with Prostate Cancer UK to bring together researchers from around the world to work on the problem. The ambitious program is the first to be launched as part of Movember’s Global Cancer Real World Evidence Network which brings together a large group of hospitals and research institutions across 19 countries to accelerate improvements in the survival and quality of life of men living with prostate and testicular cancer.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

6,886,128 Mo Bros and Mo Sisters since 2003 (and counting)

Over 1,250 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 








 








 

 

2022

As Official Mental Fitness Partner for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, which took place in November 2022, mental fitness workshops were delivered to more than 8,000 teenage rugby league players, their parents, and sports coaches in the host town and cities of the World Cup. In addition, every elite player, team official, match official, RLWC staff member, and volunteer were also supported to look after their own mental fitness and the mental fitness of those around them.

PSMA-targeting therapy, supported by Movember-funded research, was made available in the US for the treatment of men with progressive, advanced prostate cancer. The FDA approval is a hugely important milestone because it paves the way for other countries to follow suit in making this new treatment available to more men.

 

Participating countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA

6,861,045 Mo Bros, Mo Sisters and Mo's since 2003

Over 1,320 men’s health projects funded since 2003

 


 


 

 

From humble beginnings in Australia in 2003, the Movember movement has grown to be a truly global one.

Regardless of the city in which we live, we're part of something bigger, united by a commitment to help change the face of men’s health.

 

Help us continue what we started.

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