Movember Update

During the month of November, London Irish have been raising money for the Movember Foundation to support research into men’s health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

The topic of men’s health is particularly close to home as London Irish first team player Darren Dawidiuk is currently receiving treatment for testicular cancer. To support Darren and everyone else affected by cancer, the club have rallied behind the cause to try and raise as much money as possible for the Movember Foundation.

Led by our Mo Captain James Marshall, a number of players, staff and supporters signed up to the London Irish Mo Team and took on the task of either growing a moustache or setting a fitness goal to raise funds and help change the face of men’s health.

The Mo Team, including eight first team players, raised a whopping £3,931 through online donations alone, with Mo Champion Conor Gilsenan topping the charts with a staggering £1,301 raised. You can see how the team got on here: https://moteam.co/london-irish

As well as the Mo Team, London Irish ran a number of additional initiatives to support the fundraising efforts. The club donated £4 from every adult ticket and £2 from every 65 and over ticket sold for the Aviva Premiership home game against Bath Rugby on 19 November to the Movember Foundation, totalling £3,602. A bucket collection carried out by players and volunteers at the Bath game and at London Irish’s England v Australia hospitality venue raised an additional £522.51.

Furthermore, £1 from every official 2018 London Irish calendar sold throughout the month of November was donated, bolstering the total by another £68.

In support of Darren, the team warmed up in Oddballs t-shirts and bobble hats with the message Dukey 2 written on them at the Gloucester away game on 11 November and at the Bath home game on 19 November. The club ran a silent auction offering supporters the chance to bid for a signed Dukey 2 t-shirt, raising a further £389 to donate to the Movember Foundation.

All in all, thanks to the generosity of the London Irish family, the club’s fundraising efforts resulted in a fantastic £8,562.51 being raised to support research into men’s health research. We would like to thank everyone who took part or donated.