Sultan personnel complete Movember challenges
PERSONNEL from HMS Sultan have raised welcomed funds and awareness for men’s mental health taking part in the month of Movember; the training establishment announcing winners for their moustache growing and a spirited push-up competition earlier this week during a special day of activities that helped to raise the combined total of over £1,266 for two charities.
The month-long Movember ‘tache’ growing competition concluded on Tuesday with a ‘Mo-judgement’ day, when the winners of the best three moustaches grown this month gathered. The moustache growing competition raised £265 for Movember UK and continued a traditional mission for the charity, which has funded over 1,320 men’s health projects around the world tackling mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer such 2003.
The final day also saw HMS Sultan host a push-up competition across three locations around the establishment, with all proceeds going to Gosport’s Andy Man’s Club. The competition saw personnel from the Marine Engineering Training Group (METG), Royal Naval Air Engineering & Survival Equipment School (RNAESS), and Executive departments battle to achieve the most push-ups from 9am to 3pm.
The competition saw impressive displays of physical endurance across all three departments. METG completed 2,073 push-ups, the Executive department achieved 3,610, whilst RNAESS emerged as winners with an outstanding 5,641 push-ups. A total of 11,324 push-ups were completed throughout the day, raising £1,001 for Andy Man’s Club; which work in preventing other families from experiencing the heartache and grief caused by suicide by encouraging men to speak openly about their issues. This is achieved through Monday night talking groups and awareness campaigns.
Throughout the final day of the competition, mental health charities were available to speak with personnel at HMS Sultan’s Chaplaincy, including Andy Man’s Club and Solent Mind. The events saw strong participation from service and civilian personnel across HMS Sultan, demonstrating the establishment’s commitment to supporting men’s mental health awareness.
Lt Danny Clarke, who coordinated the push-up competition, said: “It was fantastic to see personnel from across HMS Sultan come together to support men’s mental health. The response was outstanding, with everyone getting involved and showing their support for Andy Man’s Club Gosport. Mental health affects us all, and events like this help break down the barriers that can prevent men from speaking openly about their struggles. The funds raised will make a real difference to the club’s vital work in our local community, encouraging men to talk and supporting families affected by suicide.”
PICTURED BY LET(ME) ELIJAH JOHNSON: Winners of HMS Sultan’s Movember ‘tache’ growing competition gather on ‘Mo-judgement’ day after a month of fundraising for men’s mental health awareness.
