As Movember wraps up, the impact is just getting started
We’re cruising toward the end of another Movember, moustaches a little wonky, legs a little tired from all the kms logged, fundraising pages full of good craic, and honestly, this is our favourite time of the year. Why? Because we get to spend more time with you. Our Mo Community.
Every November we’re blown away by the stories you share, the why behind every Mo grown, every Move made, every Euro raised. And this year, one story in particular stopped us in our tracks.
Turning loss into action: the story behind Next
Friends, collaborators and all-round top lads Ben Condron (Actor/Barber) and Director Ger Walsh lost someone close to them to suicide. It was the kind of loss that knocks the air out of you, the kind you never forget.
But instead of sitting in the silence, they decided to do something. Something that could help someone else find the words their mate couldn’t.
They teamed up with their good friend, Actor Darren Conway, and together they created 'Next' - a short film that shines a light on mental health, suicide prevention and the simple but powerful act of talking to each other.
Gerard Walsh, director of Next, said:
"Ben, Darren, and I had just finished shooting a comedy sketch in Ben’s barbershop when we started talking about our lives and the things we’ve all experienced with mental health, both directly and indirectly through friends and family.
A few weeks later, Ben reached out and asked if there was any way the three of us could make a film together. So I sat down with a simple idea inspired by how open we had all been in Ben’s barbershop that day. I wrote the script that same day, and we planned to shoot it in the coming months. It wasn’t long after losing an old friend to suicide that all of this came about, so he inevitably influenced the story. It’s what I wish I could have done for him, had I known he was what he was going through.
His name was John Redmond, and he is dearly missed.”
Since its release, 'Next' has been making its way through film festivals around the world, picking up praise, sparking conversations and doing exactly what these three hoped it would: reminding people that speaking up can save a life.
And with it being Movember, the time of year when we rally, check in and look out for our mates, we couldn’t think of a better moment to share Next with you.
This is why we Mo
Every moustache grown, every sweaty challenge completed, every brave conversation started - it all feeds into one mission: to change the face of men’s health.
Your support helps us fund programmes and research across mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. Real impact, real people, real change. And stories like Ben’s, Ger’s and Darren’s remind us exactly why it matters.
Now it’s your turn
Grab a cuppa. Take 10 minutes.
👉 Watch Next here.
Share it with someone who might need it. Start a conversation - even the awkward kind. Especially the awkward kind. Because you never know who needs it.
Need support? We’ve got you.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone - and you don’t have to figure this out by yourself.
• If you're ever worried that someone's life is in immediate danger, call 999 or 112 or go directly to emergency services. 📞 999 or 112 or http://www.hse.ie/emergencies
• Find a Helpline – This is an excellent resource and one to encourage: findahelpline.com
• Visit here for more specific resources or support