Sunbury Mo Bros fight for mental health awareness

Corey Hansen and some of the other Sunbury Mo Bros. Picture Shawn Smits.

Fifty young Sunbury men have banded together to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health after being rocked by the recent loss of a mate.

The Sunbury Mo Bros have raised more than $18,000 in two weeks for men’s mental health charity Movember ahead of a fundraising evening later this month.

Organiser Corey Hansen said the team’s efforts were not solely aimed at raising money but establishing awareness of mental health issues and the community’s willingness to support one another.

“We all want to get around each other,” Mr Hansen said. “It’s times like these that we stick together and show each other what great mates we are.

“We’ve all been through a lot and now we should spread some awareness out there to help make sure this doesn’t happen to others … everyone is here to help.”

The Sunbury Mo Bros is centred around the Sunbury Lions Football Netball Club, whose players have been devastated by the recent passing of former player Tanner Bell.

Movember, a national campaign, encourages men to grow a moustache during the month of November and raise money to highlight men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.

But the Sunbury Mo Bros wanted to take the campaign further and have organised a Movember Fundraiser evening.

Posters advertising the event pay tribute to Mr Bell.

“We have recently lost a great mate in Tanner Bell, an amazing young man with a smile as big as Luna Park who was loved by all,” the flyers read.

The event will be held at Sunbury Football Social Club, at Clarke Oval, Sunbury, on Friday, November 24, from 7pm.

The evening will include games, a DJ, silent auctions and raffles. Entry will cost $10.

To donate to the men’s efforts visit www.movember.com.au and search for The Sunbury Mo Bro’s team.