A team of New South Wales tradies are turning heads this Movember with a cheeky campaign to raise awareness for men’s health.
The bold and bare fundraiser has seen employees from the Tonkin Group strip down to their speedos, washing cars as part of the company’s month-long awareness drive.
The Albury-based trade services provider has a team of 51 staff getting behind this year’s Movember campaign, with plenty eager to swap the toolbox for a sponge at last week’s community car wash.
So far this year, the company has raised nearly $7,000 to support men’s health.
Tonkin brand manager Greta Geurin revealed it won’t be the last time Albury’s residents see more studs and suds this Movember, with the company planning to run one more car wash before the month ends, thanks to popular demand.
“Originally, it was supposed just to be an internal fundraiser with a few clients and community members invited,” she told Build-it.
“But when this went up on social media, we had so many people online saying they want to get involved and bring their car down.”
“Even my mother was annoyed she missed the first one.”
Cheeky carwash sends serious message
But behind the fun and laughter is a serious cause for those at the plumbing, electrical and refrigeration provider, exposing the realities of men’s health struggles.
Ms Geurin told Build-it that the company had refocused its Movember campaign drive around spreading a message and encouraging tough conversations among its staff.
We wanted to get our team more involved in it this year. We have done Movember before, and it’s important to remember there’s more behind it than just funds,” she said.
We wanted to raise awareness among our own tradies and structure it around awareness this year.”
Encouraging conversation
Every Friday throughout Movember, the Tonkin group hosts a barbecue breakfast for staff where guest speakers come to discuss men’s health issues with their team.
Guests have included mental health advocates, nutritionists, cancer survivors and even ex-AFL star Paul Spargo.
The morning also features a specific weekly fundraising event organised by a different service department team, featuring car washes, yabby racing and an auction.
“The purpose of putting them in teams and doing this event is to bring them together and create a sense of community,” Ms Guerin told Build-it.
“It shows you can do so much more than grow a mo, and there’s plenty of different ways to raise awareness.”
For updates on the Tonkin Group’s Movember fundraising campaign, visit their Facebook page.
