A grand cause: Keegan’s tribute to the man who taught him to show up

Kiwi Mo Bro Keegan wouldn’t lose his signature beard for any old reason. He’d worn it for over a decade. He was even happy to never lay eyes on his bare chin for the rest of his years. But for Movember, he found a reason grand enough for the clippers to come out.

Can you tell us a bit about your grandfather and the bond you shared?

My relationship with my grandfather was complex. He didn’t talk about himself much; he fought in the war, and the most I ever found out was that he was at Normandy. But he was always there for me. When I was 12 and figuring out school, we weren’t in zone for the best one. So, my grandfather rand my grandmother offered for me and my brother to come live with them. Imagine raising two teenagers in your 60s. Over those years, he taught me a lot about respect and what it means to show up for your family.

What made you decide to get involved with Movember, and did your grandfather’s experience inspire you?

Movember is a cause I’ve always respected. It does so much good, especially here in New Zealand, where men often don’t talk as much as they should. My grandfather passed away from prostate cancer, and that was the final push to get involved.

You kept your beard for over a decade as a way of honouring him. What was it like finally shaving it off for Movember?

Yeah, that was a rough one. He had a great big white bushy beard, so growing mine felt like honouring him. But after having it for so long, I wasn’t keen on how I’d look without it. My fiancée loves my beard too, so I was risking a cold shoulder, but she supported why I was doing it. I knew he’d be proud. I won’t lie, I didn’t love seeing my chin again. But like a lot of Movember guys, I was tempted to keep the stache (my fiancée vetoed that pretty quickly).

How did your friends and family react when you went clean-shaven for the first time in years?

Mostly shock! People at work walked right past me without realising who I was. Some joked they couldn’t look at me until it grew back. But once I explained it was for Movember, everyone got behind me. It’s awesome how much people support the cause.

You raised $1,000 to reach Platinum Club. What helped make your fundraising so successful, and what advice would you give others?

I just told everyone what I was doing, and people asked how they could support me. I didn’t push for donations, they just happened through conversations. Having a big visual change helped spark those chats. So, my advice: do something visible that gets people asking questions. It’s a great way to open up about why you’re doing Movember.

Why do you think it’s so important to raise awareness and support men’s health here in New Zealand?

Because people shouldn’t go through things alone. Talking to someone won’t fix everything, but it almost always makes it easier. That means happier, healthier people; and more of the awesome men in our lives staying with us.

And finally, any advice for someone thinking about signing up for Movember for the first time?

Give it a go! If you’re worried about how you’ll look or not raising much money, don’t be. Every dollar makes a difference. Yeah, people will make jokes but that can be part of the fun, and often those jokes lead to pretty amazing conversations. You owe it to yourself, your mates, and all of us guys to have a shot.

Ready to take action? Sign up today and help change the face of men’s health.