The Hilton

HILTON HAIRIES ARE BACK

- JADE LE ROUX

Every year for 10 years, Hilton resident Dave Prentice has dedicated the month of November to raising funds and awareness around men’s physical and mental health under the global movement Movember. Last year, he even dyed his moustache pink as an added fundraisin­g effort.

This year, he is actively promoting awareness around men’s mental health, noting the added strain the Covid-19 pandemic has placed on men’s emotional and mental health.

“As much as the movement is about raising awareness on prostate cancer and men’s health, a big part of it is also advocating for men’s mental health. I want to push the Covid-19 angle this year and deal with the mental repercussi­ons the pandemic has had on men. Men don’t talk openly about their mental states, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t affected. The pandemic has caused isolation, job losses, financial difficulti­es, and even death to so many men and their families,” he said.

His personal experience­s of losing his father-in-law to prostate cancer and witnessing many of his male friends struggle with depression has motivated and fuelled his continued campaignin­g for the global Movember initiative that promotes awareness around men’s health issues like prostate cancer and depression – two of the biggest contributo­rs to low life expectancy in men.

His fundraisin­g efforts are done through the global Movember platform and website, where he has registered in both in his personal capacity and as a team: The Hilton Hairies. Prentice welcomes anyone who is passionate about the Movember cause to join his Hilton Hairies team.

Following the success of last year’s auction of a hand-made collectibl­e fly fishing net, which raised R5000, Prentice will be auctioning another collectibl­e fishing net this year. He will also be selling Movember bumper stickers during November.

Prentice has also set himself the personal challenge of walking 60km during November as a commitment to moving and being active.

To donate or join the Hilton Hairies, email movember@dpanda.co.za or visit the Hilton Hairies Movember page: https://movember.com/t/hiltonhair­ies?mc=1

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