My name is Joel Harris, I’m a 22-year-old postgraduate from Northumbria University where I studied sports coaching. I am also a coach at Blyth Town Football Club, which is a club where I’ve played for since I was 4. I have templesyndrome which means I stopped growing at the age 9 and find it harder to lose body fat and gain muscle mass compared to the average person.

My templesundrome has had a massive effect on my mental health from such an early age, that is why I am an ambassador for Movember. Movember is the leading Charity in the world helping tackle men’s mental health. In the UK a man will commit suicide every hour of the day and globally a man will commit suicide every minute of every hour of every day.

I met my best friend on holiday, we connected instantly and even although we were from opposite sides of the country we stayed in touch. I received a phone call from his mother who revealed that he had committed suicide. It was a total shock; he was the happiest of lads. Far too many men are toughing it out and not looking for or asking for help. This is why I am doing Movember, to raise much needed funds as well as raising awareness for men’s mental health.

We lose a man in the UK to suicide every hour of the day and globally a man commits suicide every 60 seconds!

Movember is the leading global charity changing the face of men’s health. They exist to stop men dying too young by tackling some of the most complex health issues facing men today – mental health, suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

Thanks to the seven million people globally who have got behind the movement, Movember is proud to have funded more than 1,300 men’s health projects around the world. Programs that challenge health systems, confront gender norms, reduce health inequalities, and encourage men to adopt healthy behaviours.

They will continue to make noise, push boundaries, and shape the health and wellbeing of men for generations to come. Because healthier men means a healthier world.

As well as growing a Mo, I will be MOving 60km during the month and taking a cold plunge for 60 minutes as part of my fundraising. If anyone would like to donate to my fundraiser for Movember, please click on the link attached.