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Even moustache growing has been affected by the global financial crisis with the Movember campaign raising less than a third of last year's money.
The men's health awareness programme is now in its third year in New Zealand and raised $2.1 million last year. This year only $614,000 has been raised so far but that amount is set to rise as larger corporate donations are tallied up.
Movember spokesman Jim Slattery said the money would be significantly less than last year.
"It's still a fantastic effort, especially in the current economic climate. As much as it is about raising money for these charities, a lot of it also the awareness campaign," Mr Slattery said.
"People just don't have the big money to donate online like they did over the last years. Last year the economy was going really well and was strong but this year people do have to cut back on things and sometimes that is donating," he said.
The Movember movement also attracted less than half the registrations it did last year with just 12,600 - compared to last year's 26,000.
Mr Slattery said many men didn't register but still grew a moustache.
The charity also missed out on valuable advertising in the media earlier in the month because of the general election.
But Mr Slattery said the money raised was nothing to sniff at and would go a long way towards men's health problems.
"Every dollar helps for charity."
This year they changed charity partners from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand to splitting the cash between the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the New Zealand Mental Health Foundation's "Out of The Blue" campaign to help men experiencing depression.
Mr Slattery said next year they would try to boost the movement's image by having "every man in New Zealand grow a moustache".
"I think the support will continue to increase with the two new charity partners."
He said there was some confusion "on the street" after a change of charities receiving the money this year.
"There was some information put out by some sources, trying to have a crack at Movember but as you can see Mo bros know better than that," Mr Slattery said.
He said reports that the money was heading to charities off-shore were not true and the campaign would go ahead again next year.
The Mental Health Foundation and the New Zealand Cancer Society will receive money raised during the campaign this year.
New Zealand Cancer Society chief executive Dalton Kelly said funds were already pegged for important initiatives.
"Some of the funds will be used for prostate cancer research, and some will go towards support services."
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said she was looking forward to the next phase of injecting funds into the MHF Out of the Blue depression awareness programme.
- with NZPA
