Day 16 – Past The Mid-Mo Mark

The mirror nods with quiet grace,
A half-grown Mo upon my face.
Two weeks gone, and there I stand,
Brave of lip, and moustached grand.
The itchy phase now starts to fade,
The halfway point so bravely made.
Each whisker grown, a pledge renewed,
For mates’ wellbeing, strong and true.
It is more than hair—a story told,
Of battles fought, of hearts made bold.
For every man who fears to speak,
This Mo gives strength to those who seek.
So raise a smile, keep spirits high,
My reason grows, as days roll by.
Movember’s voice—both deep and kind—
Reminds the world: care starts in mind.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion & Mentor
CoderDojo - Mackay @ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Community Ambassador* Platinum Club Level 3 Member *1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia - https://mobro.co/ sanjeevbandi

Midway through the Movember 2025 Crusade

Movember 15th, a steady flame in the month-long glow,
A quiet march of change where whispers turn to grow.
Whiskers mark the days, but hearts mark the cause more deep,
Men’s health in the foreground, waking wounds we chose to keep.
From sunlit mornings to the late-night clinic light,
We stand for courage, shoulder to shoulder, in the quiet fight.
Mental health, the ballast, and bodies brave the tide,
A movement stitched with laughter, resilience, and pride.
Calendars count the days with charts and hopeful art,
Yet the real numbers rise in every brave, unmasked heart.
Ask the hard questions gently; listen when the stories pour,
In the spaces between the silence, there is a knock on every door.
Movember threads a thread of care through moustached, steadfast crews,
Not just for a month, but a vow to honor every bruise.
To seek help, to offer hand, to break the stubborn shame,
To celebrate small victories, and remember every name.
So here is to the days ahead, to health that is holistic and true,
To community that rallies strong, with courage in its view.
May the moustache be a banner, a signal, a hopeful sign,
That strength includes seeking help, and that is perfectly fine.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion & Mentor
CoderDojo - Mackay @ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Community Ambassador* Platinum Club Level 3 Member *1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia - https://mobro.co/ sanjeevbandi

First 2 weeks of Movember 2025

Movember dawns with a quiet dare,
a breeze of whiskers threading through the air.
Shaving walls recall the old routines,
while hopeful stubble seeds new means.
Day one hums with a razor’s soft, bright edge,clean faces map the week on the edge.
A calendar cleared of easy vanity,
replacing it with purpose, steady clarity.
Days two and three learn patient patience,each breath a pause, a mindful cadence.
Conversations bloom in the common spaces,where men share burdens, fears, and graces.
Week one closes with a morning vow,to voice the unseen, to lift the allowed.
The mustache shyly whispers, “begin,”a timid crown on skin, finding its skin.
By day eight the night lights glow,
a chorus rising for the stories we know.
Athletic hearts drum a steady pace,
mind and body aligned in the same race.
Two weeks in, the routine takes root,
not just a beard, but a resolute pursuit.
Small steps, loud together, break the wall, each story a thread in a wider call.
Movember’s heartbeat thickens with care,a reminder that strength is more than bare.
To talk, to listen, to stand as one crew,two weeks of courage, and a future anew.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia - https://mobro.co/sanjeevbandi

Movember Day Fourteen

A flame of orange, steady and true,
Roots in hope, a quiet revolution in view.
Stubble and whiskers, a banner, a sign,
Raising awareness, one step at a time.
Forty days of sparks in the breath of men,
Courage stitched through the spaces between.
Conversations open where silence grew thin,
A pledge to look deeper, to check, to begin.
Movember’s caravan moves with care,
From the clinic halls to the whispering air.
Chins lift up stories of battles fought,
Of friends, of brothers, the battles they fought.
So here on Day Fourteen, with courage in tow,
We honor the living, the ones we know.
And vow to keep searching, to listen, to care,
To stand together strong, in health and in prayer.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia - https://mobro.co/sanjeevbandi

Day 13: The Movember Mirror

On the thirteenth dawn, before the mirror’s gleam,
A whisker’s shadow joins yesterday’s dream—
Half a moustache, half a hope taking shape,
Worn with a wink for the changes we make.
Each stroke of the razor, each silent vow,
Marks brotherhood’s pledge, not just facial hair now.
For every stripe above a smile, proud and thin,
Echoes of courage and kinship begin.
We joke about handlebars, pencils, and ‘staches,
But beyond the laughter, a real purpose flashes—
Raising reminders for those fighting unseen,
For testicular, prostate, and minds in between.
Let Day Thirteen catch the light on your face,
Your MO is a beacon, your story a grace.
Carve, comb, and grow—let your Movember write
Hope on each cheek, and strength in daylight.
So here is to moustaches, to friends, and to men—
To asking, to listening, again and again.
On this thirteenth day, wear it proud, wear it true,
A MO’ is much more—it is a message from you.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia - https://mobro.co/sanjeevbandi

Day 12 of Movember

Twelve days in, the ‘stache takes form,
A fuzzy badge that is far from norm.
From shy beginnings, patchy pride,
Now curling bold on every side.
Coffee sips feel twice refined,
With every froth line neatly lined.
Colleagues stare, some smile, some tease,
While donors pledge with practiced ease.
It is not just hair — it is heart on show,
For men’s health causes we all know.
A symbol grown, with care and flair,
To spark the talks too few will share.
So here is to mid-Mo’s bristled cheer,
Twelve down, nineteen till we shear.
Stay strong, moustachioed crusade —
Movember’s mission must be made

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia .

“The Eleventh of Movember”

On the eleventh of Movember, when silence falls,
We pause for the brave who answered their calls.
Poppies bloom red in the cool of the dawn,
Mo-lines grow proud as another week’s gone.
Two causes entwine in a day deeply dear,
Courage in battle, in illness, in fear.
From trenches to clinics, from warfields to wards,
Men fight their own fights with unseen rewards.
The whiskers we wear are not fashion or show,
They honour the stories we all need to know—
Of loss and of healing, remembrance and care,
Of standing for others, together aware.
So as bugles still echo and memories stay,
We grow, we reflect, we remember today.
For Movember’s mid-mark and Remembrance combine,
In valor, in health, in the human design.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia .

Day 10 of Movember – Third of the way Mark

The mirror meets a bristling grin,
Ten days in, the change begins.
Each strand a story, strong and true,
Of causes grown, of courage too.
The stubble whispers, “Stay the course,”
A subtle sign of deeper force.
It is not just hair—it is hearts that care,
For men’s health battles everywhere.
Each morning brings a mindful start,
To guard the body, check the heart.
To talk, to listen, smash the wall,
That silence builds around us all.
A third of the way there, yet still to run,
The mission’s weight, the shared-one-sun.
So I wear my iconic Mo with steady pride,
For life, for hope, for those who tried.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

On the seventh dawn of Movember’s crease,
I trace the arc where time and purpose meet.
Seven days in, a steady pulse I release,
A vow in whiskers, strength in quiet heat.
Grow the line where worries gather, sway,
A forest of resolve that frames the scope.
Each strand a note in a chorus of today,
A banner whispered for the stubborn who cope.
Seven days carved in patience, not in haste,
The mirror reflects a story still untold.
In every breath, a promise newly placed,
To champion health, to stand for brave and bold.
Movember’s path is not a finish line,
But drumbeat guiding us through risk and rise.
For every man, every friend, every design,
We measure courage by the care we prize.
So let the seventh day be a steady flame,
A quiet roar within, not loud in sound.
We wear the beard as badge of hope and aim,
And lift the lives around us from the ground.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Champion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

MOvember, Eighteen Strong: The First Six Days in 2025


Again the calendar turns—eighteenth time around,
Movember’s dawn returns, tradition deep and sound.
The razor’s pause on Day One, above a grinning chin—
Blank canvas for a legend, fresh beginnings to begin.
Day Two brings gentle stubble, hope upon the lip,
A tickle of nostalgia with fellowship in the grip.
Campaigns and conversations in digital realms unfurl,
Stories of sons and fathers, each ambition a pearl.
By Day Three, a shadow—confidence anew,
Reminders of the purpose in everything you do.
From fitness to awareness, every stride and post,
Celebrating moustache growth with those who matter most.
Day Four holds momentum—bristle, badge, and cheer,
Eighteen years of memories crystallising here.
Messages of challenge, fundraising’s growing chart,
Reminders of resilience—Movember’s beating heart.
On Day Five, reflections: the men we strive to save,
The brothers and the fathers, each silent, stoic, brave.
A toast to open dialogue, a pledge to break the night,
As Movember’s early rhythm sets ambitions right.
Day Six, you wear the mission—badge and hair and creed,
Not just about the growing, but every quiet deed.
Legacy and laughter, a campaign brightly lit—
Eighteen years unbroken, and you are still in the thick of it.

Dr Sanjeev BANDI

Sixth Day of Movember

The mirror smiles—a fuzz, a frame,
Six days strong, the face takes aim.
What started light, a playful dare,
Now blooms with pride and mindful care.
Each whisker tells a whispered theme—
Of strength, of mates, of Movember’s dream.
To spark a chat, to break the wall,
To stand for men’s health, one and all.
Beards may grow, but so does grace,
With every cause we choose to face.
Day six reminds—this month’s more than hair,
It is courage shared in the open air.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Campion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

Day 5 of Movember

Five days in, the fuzz takes form,
A whisper of pride, a change from norm.
Cheeks once bare now hum with flair,
Stories of courage shimmer there.
The mirror smiles — a pledge renewed,
Health, heart, and hope pursued.
Each strand a promise, each laugh a cause,
To break old silence, to mend old flaws.
From dawn’s first light to evening’s glow,
My 2025 Mo keeps growing, strong and slow.
It is not just hair — it is voices bound,
For men’s well-being, the world’s turned round.
Fifth day marks momentum’s start,
Where moustache meets a mindful heart.
Here is to MO’ments, big and true,
To every face that dares the new.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Campion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

Day Three of Movember

Three days in, the mirror grins,
A hint of stubble proudly begins.
Not just hair, but hope in sprout,
A silent pledge, a fearless shout.
Each whisker hums a noble song,
Of men who brave, of staying strong.
For brothers gone, for mates who fight,
We grow the Mo to spread the light.
It is more than style, it is a vow and cause,
A mindful stand, a mindful pause.
Day three whispers, “Keep it brave,”
Each hair a promise, each heart to save.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Campion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia.

Movember Day Two

A dawn of whiskers, brave and bright,
A pledge of health in quiet might.
Mists of morning, mirrors show
A path where courage starts to grow.
Laughter tucked behind a fuzzed dawn,
The first small stubble, softly drawn.
To raise awareness, raise the voice,
For men to seek the care and choice.
A beardbud sprouting, not in vain,
But banners lifted through the rain.
With every inch that darkens slow,
We speak for those who need us know.
Faces narrate a steadfast vow,
To measure strength in help, not how.
From chats that check the mood inside,
To clinics where the hands provide
Support in numbers, warm and true,
A brotherhood that sees you through.
So let the whiskers bloom and gleam,
A flag for life, and hope, and dream.
Movember marches, step by step,
With messages shared and hearts kept.
Day Two, we stand, we stand as one,
Until every fight is bravely won.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Campion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

The First Day of Movember

The razor pauses, the mirror smiles,
A month begins with gentle trials.
One brave stroke, one growing sign,
Of care, of courage, of the lifeline.
It is not the hair, but what it shows—
That strength is more than what one knows.
To speak, to share, to check, to care,
Is how true wellness takes its air.
Lift your heart, your voice, your hand,
For brothers near, in every land.
Each ‘MO’ a badge, each step a start,
Toward healthier minds and a stronger heart.
So here is to balance, peace, and cheer,
To wellness growing year by year.
For Movember’s dawn reminds us all—
Stand taller, speak kindly, stay mindful, stand tall.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
Digital Campion and Mentor
CoderDojo- Mackay@ SplitSpaces
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club* Movember Ambassador* 1 of 2 Diamond Members of Movember Hall of Fame in Australia

Famous victory in Navi Mumbai

Jubilant cheers rise from Navi Mumbai’s skies,
A victory carved in grit, where fearless spirits rise.
Indian women on a radiant, daring spree,
Beating a mighty Australia, setting hearts free.
Jemima takes the stage, a storm in calm disguise,
Unbeaten, tireless, with resolute eyes.
Each stroke a stanza in a fearless, flowing psalm,
Her bat writes history, a nation’s beating psalm.
The boundary bells sing out in silver light,
As boundaries kiss the rope and vanish out of sight.
Dots and sixes weave a tapestry of might,
A showcase of courage, pure and bright.
Fielders dive like poets in a rain-softened rhyme,
Saving every ball, bending time.
The bowlers tight as drumbeats in a war-cry,
Threading lines and lengths with a patient, careful sigh.
Chants rise from stands that roar and glow,
For every girl who dreams, for every seed to sow.
Today is more than a win, more than score and run,
It is a beacon blazing bright for daughters, everyone.
Congrats to the team, to the captain’s steady hand,
To a nation’s cheers that echo across the land.
May this victory spark new dreams to unfurl,
Inspiring young hearts around this brilliant world.
Har boht mubarak ho—this triumph we hail,
A chapter of grit in India’s valiant tale.
From Navi Mumbai’s lights to every village and town,
Let pride fill the air, let joy rebound.

Dr Sanjeev BANDI
Executive Council Member
Mackay Indian Association Inc.

As a Team, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club has raised $ 32,805 this year in 2025 in our 15th campaign as a Team from Mackay in North Queensland and an amazing op $ 1,000,282.16 since we started as a Team in 2011 becoming the first Team in the mainland with 10 erstwhile members to break the 1 million mark this year- https://moteam.co/mov-ing-mackay-cricket-club

My blogs on A-Z of Men’s Health for 2024 and 2025 campaigns are available at

https://mackayurology.com/movember-articles/

Since 1 st July 2025, I have walked
579.6 kms till date. The members of the MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club have walked 665.6 kms from 1st July 2025 to 17th October 2025

Here is my poetic tribute for being recognised as 1 of 2 Diamond Members of the Movember Hall of Fame at the recent MO AWARDS 2025 event.

Movember Hall of Fame — Diamond Tier
In the mirror glints a noble aim,
A sparkle born of more than fame—
For under moustache, truth and care,
Shine hearts that dare, and men who share.
They wear their growth not just for style,
But for brothers walking the longer mile.
Each whisker whispers, “You’re not alone,”
A Diamond pledge, compassion grown.
From stubble starts to glistening crown,
They lift the silent spirits down.
Their courage trims the edge of fear,
A light that burns through every year.
So raise your glass to those who strive,
To keep the Movember flame alive.
For in this Hall, the bravest gleam—
Diamond souls, the men who dream.

DR SANJEEV BANDI
CAPTAIN, MOV~ing Mackay Cricket Club
Australia’s HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER

The Distinguished Gentleman’s Drive is a global on-road motoring event that celebrates classic cars built 40 years or older. It encourages vintage car owners and enthusiasts to dress in stylish, dapper attire and drive their classic vehicles to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues, specifically prostate cancer and men’s mental health. The event supports the Movember Foundation, with funds raised invested in vital research and programs for these causes.

The Drive features pre-1985 cars (with some replica and run-on model exceptions) and celebrates the elegance and style of classic vehicles alongside the refined dress of participants. It is family-friendly and free to participate, organized by volunteers worldwide on a set date—in 2025, it is today Sunday, the 28th of September.

Woke up early and got my 1976 RX 5 ready for the drive to watch the sunrise at picturesque Cape Hillsborough at 5:48 am and feed the wallabies on the Beach and then take a long drive to the Lambert’s Beach lookout.

Suicide is the leading cause of death in young Australian men aged between 15-44.

I walked 9km this morning to remember the 9 Australian young men lost to suicide every day in 1 hour 14 mins and 58 seconds.

Over 3,000 Australians lose their lives to suicide every year.
These people are our family, friends and loved ones.

By taking part in the Out of the Shadows Walk, I am helping to ensure that no Australian has to face their darkest moments alone.

Every 24 seconds, someone calls the Lifeline crisis support line.

I walked to remember loved ones and help other Australians in crisis come out of the shadows and into the light.

“How and why suicides happen is incredibly complex. What we do know is that helping men establish better social connections can improve their overall wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide.

At MOVEMBER, our mission to make lasting change and dramatically reduce the rate of male suicide, Movember funds community-based early intervention programs that address mental health through a male lens.”