Emma Upton is running a half marathon each day to raise money for Movember

Emma Upton is running a half marathon each day in November to raise awareness of men's mental health issues. Photo / David Haxton

Emma Upton is running a half marathon each day this month for Movember — a charity that raises funds and awareness for men’s health issues.

The 19-year-old, from Raumati South, is juggling the physical change between her two jobs — as a barista in Paraparaumu and an administration role for a building company in Churton Park.

“Movember has always been a really important charity to me, especially for men’s mental health.

“I’ve lost people in my life to suicide as well as having mates struggle.

“The more openly we talk about things, the more likely people will reach out for help.

“New Zealand still has some way to go in mental health but we’re definitely getting somewhere.

“I want to show that it’s completely okay not to be okay, and get more people talking, and have nice open conversations.”

She has already raised over $4500 from donations through the New Zealand Movember website. Her target is $6000.

Upton, who is doing 30 runs, covering 600km, found the first week “quite difficult.”

“My body had to adjust to all the kilometres, and I lost my appetite quite a lot, but as time progressed I started to feel quite good.

“I’ve had a lady giving me massages, in support, once a week which has helped tremendously.”

She enjoyed the mental challenge, too.

Emma Upton during the Wellington half marathon.

“I love being able to push myself to the limit and finding new limits that I didn’t think possible. You’re more capable than you think you are.”

Upton did athletics when she was younger but got into running seriously in April when she “very impulsively signed up for a marathon”.

“I was lying in bed one night and decided I needed to do something, so I signed up for the Wellington Marathon.

“It was hard (42.2km distance) and I needed more training but I was delighted to cross the finish line in about four and a half hours.”

Upton also competed in the Auckland Marathon with the Movember team, comprising about 15 runners.

“I did the half-marathon distance and just cruised it without going for any personal best time.”

She expects to finish her challenge by joining the [Mo]re Than A Run event, in Wellington, which is dedicated to Movember.

“On November 30 they’re doing a 10km, 30km and 60km run to raise money for Movember, starting at TSB Arena. It will be a matter of picking a distance and how I feel. People start at various times and everyone finishes at noon. It will be a good way to finish the challenge.”

About Movember

Movember is an annual men’s health movement focusing on prevention, early intervention and health promotion. Its main event focuses on people growing a moustache or undertaking physical activity to raise money for men’s health.

Movember started more than two decades ago in 2003 when two mates in Australia (Travis Garone and Luke Slattery) decided to try and bring moustaches back into fashion.

Inspired by a friend’s mother who was fundraising for breast cancer, they decided to make their campaign about men’s health and prostate cancer. They designed the rules of Movember (which are still in place today) and agreed to charge $10 to grow a mo. Trav designed the first Movember logo, and they sent around an email titled ‘Are you man enough to be my man?’ They found 30 guys willing to take up the challenge.

Since then, Movember has continued to grow at an extraordinary pace. There are now official campaigns in 21 countries and together they’ve raised more than $8 billion to fund over 1000 men’s health programmes.

Movember’s focus has broadened to four key men’s health issues: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. It has seen the growth of millions of moustaches, significant breakthroughs in scientific research and a fundamental shift in the conversation around men’s health.

New Zealand’s key stats:

Men’s health

In New Zealand, men are dying, on average, 3.5 years earlier than women — and for largely preventable reasons.

Mental health and suicide

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death in men aged 15 to 59 in New Zealand.

• In New Zealand, almost 3 in 4 suicides are men.

• Māori men die by suicide at almost twice the rate of non-Māori men.

• New Zealand has the second highest youth suicide rates in the developed world.

Prostate cancer

• Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in New Zealand.

• More than 4000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year in New Zealand; and more than 19,000 men are living with or beyond prostate cancer.

• 1 in 8 men in New Zealand will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Testicular cancer

• Testicular cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men aged between 15 and 29 in New Zealand.