Will Taylor is ready to grow a mo ahead of Movember campaign
The rising TikTok star from Geelong will don a moustache during November after losing his dad to suicide 11 years ago.
Geelong
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Hamlyn Heights young gun Will Taylor is preparing to grow out a luscious moustache ahead of another Movember campaign.
Mr Taylor first participated in the annual cause that aims to break down the stigma around men’s mental health as a student at St Joseph’s College.
“I first got involved seven or eight years ago,” he said.
“I just want people to understand that sharing emotions and being vulnerable is normal and we don’t have to hide any of it.”
Mr Taylor lost his dad to suicide 11 years ago and said that was his biggest motivator to grow a mo in November each year.
“He would be just rapt for me, even if I wasn’t doing it for him and was doing it for other people … he was such a giver,” he said.
Mr Taylor is also a TikTok rising star, sharing comedy and sports content with his 13.4 thousand followers on the platform.
He plans to grow the conversation around men’s mental health through his social media following.
“I’ll probably do a lot more videos on TikTok talking about how it’s really normal to show your emotions, even crying to your mates is normal,” he said.
“Everyone puts up these walls, especially men.”
This year, Mr Taylor has pledged that if he reaches his $2000 fundraising target he will get a tattoo of the Movember moustache logo somewhere on his body.
He said it could become a good conversation starter for the cause but is still undecided about where the potential fresh ink could go.
“The funny spot would be the backside but I’ll probably get it in a spot where people would see it, I might get it on my ankle,” he said.
The 21-year-old said breaking the stigma around men’s mental health was getting there was still a long way to go, especially after lockdowns saw people have little to no communication with others.
“We are heading down the right track but we still need a really big push to overcome the stigma,” he said.
Mr Taylor hopes to continue to participate in the campaign for years to come and wants to encourage younger men to get involved.
“If I was to influence one bloke to start a Movember account and raise funds for this cause, I’d be stoked,” he said.
Originally published as Will Taylor is ready to grow a mo ahead of Movember campaign