Founded in 2003, Movember is a global leader in men’s health advocacy, focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Their mission is to drive real change by funding critical research, supporting life-saving programs, and fostering open conversations about men’s health. Supporting Movember means supporting a movement that’s breaking stigmas and building a healthier future for men everywhere.

In 2023, my father was unexpectedly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, and after months of treatment, he is now cancer-free. During that same time, we lost my cousin, Braedon Metz, to suicide at just 23 years old. These two life-altering events left me searching for answers and struggling to make sense of it all.

It was during those difficult moments that I found Movember. Their resources provided not only essential information about men’s health but also a compassionate community. Movember’s focus on mental health awareness and early cancer detection deeply resonated with me and became the foundation for my ongoing advocacy.

My Involvement:
- In November 2024, I completed my first-ever marathon, the Barfoot & Thompson Marathon in Auckland, New Zealand, dedicating every mile to Braedon and to all those who have lost their battles with mental health. For those wondering, my official time was 3:46.
- In September 2025, I joined other Movember representatives for an 11-day, 55-mile climb through the Italian Dolomites as part of Movember’s Adventure Series program. Together, we shared our stories, our motivations, and our collective message of hope and resilience while ascending to altitudes nearing 13,000 feet.
- In March 2026, I will take on my most challenging endeavor yet, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Rising 19,341 feet, Kilimanjaro is not only Africa’s tallest mountain but also one of the world’s great natural symbols of endurance and perseverance.

Your support means the world to me. Whether through donations, encouragement, or by simply sharing my story, you’re helping fund vital programs, spark essential conversations, and bring us closer to a world where men’s health is prioritized and openly discussed.

Let’s make every mile matter.

To all my colleagues who donated, please remember to use our employee donation matching policy: https://williamblair.benevity.org/request-a-match

Follow my training on Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/112104264

Explore my travel photos: https://www.elliottnelson.xyz (note: may not load on work computers)