Why I Mo: Josh Cowan and Run For Rob
We sat down with the leader of ‘Run For Rob’ to discover the story behind one of Movember’s most successful fundraising teams
FOR 11 MONTHS of the year, Josh Cowan is an unassuming school teacher at Melbourne’s Nazareth College. But in the month of November, Cowan heads up the Run For Rob group as ‘captain’ of a Movember team that raised nearly $30,000 to support men’s health in 2023 alone.
Cowan is a shining example of how everyday people can actively improve the state of men’s health across the country at a grassroots level. He’s not out campaigning every day, badgering his neighbours about this cause and that, but simply practises what he preaches, doing his part in reducing the rate of male suicide by being there for his mates and keeping his students informed on how to manage their mental health and the importance of supporting others.
It was that community-minded approach that led Cowan and his friends to start Run For Rob, an annual Movember challenge, in 2021. But first, who’s Rob? Allow Cowan to explain. “Rob was a mate of ours who passed away in 2019 from suicide,” he tells Men’s Health. “He posted his struggles on Facebook and shared his battle publicly, but didn’t get the support he needed. He’s been sorely missed.”
To honour Rob’s memory, every year Cowan and co. set out to run rings around a 2km loop at Caulfield Park. Starting from 4am, every runner covers a different distance. Some will ease into a 10k, while others, like Cowan, will push for up to 60km.
Last year Run For Rob attracted around 80 runners, by Cowan’s estimate. And while the event has grown significantly, it has humble beginnings. “It started during COVID in 2021 where we just couldn’t really connect, I suppose, and I was just running for fun,” says Cowan. “One of the boys suggested doing something with Movember, and we just thought this would be the perfect way to remember Rob because something we all knew him for was going on runs to the gym.”
It didn’t take long for Cowan to understand the impact that the Run For Rob event could have. “We learned really quickly that what we were doing was starting some really positive conversations,” he says. “It gives people something to mobilise around and come together to talk about these things that are usually difficult to share.”
In the first year of the event, only around ten runners participated. But according to Cowan that number quickly rose to 40 in 2022 and 80 in 2023. Now, the Run For Rob team is anticipating an even larger showing when they meet in November.
Cowan attributes much of Run For Rob’s growth to the support the team has received from Movember. “It makes a massive difference knowing that we’ve got them to help with stuff all the time. It gives us the power to start conversations about men’s health,” he says. “They are genuinely changing the face of health.”
And before you ask, yes, Cowan and the rest of the Run For Rob team will be sporting Mo’s during their runs. This ritual is more than just a gesture for Cowan, who uses it as a means to start important conversations about men’s health. “It’s a thing that I share with my students all the time,” he says. “Once you’ve had this conversation about why I have the moustache, it really helps people understand what I’m doing and the importance of it.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, please seek support from a mental health professional or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For support resources visit Movember.com/getsupport
Together, we can unite to take on men’s health. The Moustache is Calling. Join us this Movember and Grow a Mo or, Move 60km for the 60 men suicide takes globally every hour. Raise funds. Save lives. Sign up now at Movember.com
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