Yesterday I faced one of my biggest fears and jumped out of a plane. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, but also one of the most empowering, because I wasn’t doing it just for me. I was doing it for the men in my life, for those who have struggled in silence, and for a cause that I believe in with my whole heart.
This is my second year as a Movember Ambassador and Mo Sister, and every day I am reminded why this movement matters so much. Movember isn’t about moustaches, it’s about men’s health in all its forms: mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. It’s about starting conversations that can save lives.
Too often, I’ve watched the men around me put on a brave face while carrying heavy battles behind closed doors. I’ve been there to support friends through their lowest points, and I’ve seen how hard it can be for men to admit they’re struggling. That stigma, the idea that vulnerability makes you weak, needs to end. And that’s why I’ll keep showing up, speaking up, and pushing myself beyond my limits.
Jumping out of a plane was terrifying, but it’s nothing compared to the courage it takes to reach out and say, “I’m not okay.” That’s the real bravery. And that’s why I take on these challenges: to raise awareness, to spark conversations, and to remind every man that he does not have to go through life alone.
Through the University of Exeter campaign and beyond, I want to build a community where men feel safe to open up, where they know they’ll be heard, and where mental health is treated with the same importance as physical health. This isn’t just about one month. This is about lasting change, about standing together, and about saving lives.