Local Bournemouth Charity MoRunning Supports Men’s Mental Health

Local groups gather round to keep conversations going all year round as the Charity run raises thousands.  

Bournemouth’s attempts are continuing beyond November to help men’s mental health as the Charity MoRunning, the UK’s largest running event in support of men’s mental health, hosts at Poole.  

 So far, the charity has raised £44,755 from six of their 19 runs across the UK in aid of Movember, a movement supporting men’s health, including prostate, testicular cancer and mental health issues, including suicide prevention.  

 Over 320 runners sprinted into Poole, donning moustaches, fancy dress and their best running shoes to complete distances of 1.5k, 5k, 10k or a half marathon. 

 Helen Stammers, one of the event organisers, said her favourite part of MoRunning “is seeing our MoRunners satisfaction on completing their run” whilst recollecting a personal favourite, “My 10-year-old son beating my eldest 20-year-old son”  

 Adding that the event looks to expand in the future, “we would love to continue the growth in the upcoming years, potentially beyond the UK”  

 5k Runners at the MoRun, Denice and Paul Chapman, entered the MoRun after a cancelled park run “It was amazing, we’re glad it got cancelled or we would have never run for this great cause.”  

 Bournemouth isn’t just focusing on November, Men’s mental health group Andy’s man club, runs drop-in talking sessions every Monday at 7 pm here in Bournemouth.  

 With 320+ locations around the UK, their encouraging all men to open up and connect, trying to beat the stigmas, with their last meetings gathering 6,520 men.  

 Their area lead, Andy Barton, believes the negative stigma around mental health is the leading challenge for men opening up.  

 “Comments like ‘man up’ and ‘man of the house’ cause lasting damage to a society trying to get men to talk about mental health.”  

 Other current programmes like AFC Bournemouth’s Men in Mind sessions, partnered with Dorset Mind, offer 50-minute exercise sessions along with a 40-minute social catch-up, every Tuesday evening.  

 Smaller sessions around Bournemouth include Bob Perry’s mental health walks in Meyrick Park for military veterans and serving, run every 4th Saturday of the month.  

 (Image Credit – Ruby Martin)