Did you know that moving on a regular basis can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer by up to 50 per cent and lower your risk of early death by up to 30 per cent? That’s why Movember, now in its 10th year of raising awareness of men’s health issues, has had a makeover. No longer just for the ‘Mo Bros’ and their prickly moustaches, women can support the men in their lives by taking part in the MOVE campaign – a commitment to move every day for 30 days. Sign up for MOVE, challenge friends and family to match your efforts, and you’ll be raising funds for a great cause while getting in shape for summer.
Two long-time supporters of Movember are Radio Hauraki DJ and former professional surfer Jay Reeve, 32, and his wife, model Anna Reeve, 29. Now they have 18-month-old twin boys Oscar and Hunter to run around after, the couple are even more motivated to keep men’s health issues in the spotlight.
Why do you get involved in Movember?
JAY: Eleven years ago, nobody mentioned anything about men’s health. It was always “She’ll be right.” I remember my farmer father slicing his hand open and doing his own stitches. He’d never go to a doctor! We’re trying to change that mentality. We’re protective of our women, but we don’t extend that to ourselves.
ANNA: Often men need a little bit of a push. They need someone in their lives to be the reminder to go ‘get it looked at’. We’re the mothers, sisters, daughters. I don’t know what I’d do if Jay wasn’t around.
How will you be moving in Movember?
JAY: I have my ‘Fat Dads Club’ – it’s TIKA training, which is plyometric body weight training for 45 minutes, three times a week. I love it, not just for feeling physically fit, but for my mental health as well. It’s tough having twins sometimes! Keeping fit creates more energy, which is important because I don’t want to be useless for the kids. It’s my job to run them into the ground before they go to bed! Also, it’s not technically exercise but I plan to spend more time on my motorbike; it’s the closest I can get to the adrenaline rush of surfing while living in the city.
ANNA: I always encourage Jay to ride his bike. Even if he just goes for 20 minutes, he always comes back happier. I get my timeout and my exercise doing Pilates classes and working with a personal trainer. I had serious muscle separation after the birth of the twins – three-finger width. I got it down to one-finger width in seven months, now I can do core exercises. I’ll also go for walks with the twins – after you’ve pushed two 12kg twins in a 13kg pram up a hill, you’ve had a good workout!
Will we be seeing a moustache?
JAY: Yes, I grow one every year. Nothing over the top, just your standard ‘mo’.
ANNA: I hate the moustache. I deal with it for a month, then it’s gone!
Words by: Rachael Russell
