Rovere out to mo-tivate the masses

FRESH from competing in the Lift The Load Challenge, raising almost $2000, Barrington’s Adrian Rovere is diving straight into Movember.

Both these initiatives raise money for men’s health issues.

Movember is a global movement raising funds to tackle issues such as prostate and testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

Aside from making a donation to Movember, Adrian will take on the Move For Mental Health Challenge where participants run, walk or crawl some 60 kilometres across the month of November to represent the 60 men lost to suicide each week in Australia.

“This is very personal for me, with my brother Mark having suicided at age 34,” he said.

“He had so much to offer.

“I mean, despite being in and out of hospital, he managed to get his diploma that saw him gain employment as a high school maths teacher.

“Mark, in fact, was dux of fourth form (year 10) at Coonabarabran High.”

Adrian said he supports these men’s health and mental health initiatives as they “literally save lives”.

His previous conquests for charity include swimming 130 laps of an Olympic pool (6.5km) and completing 16,000 push-ups across a 21-day fundraiser.

In his recently completed Lift The Load Challenge, where participants were asked to carry 10kg some 50km across the 31 days of October, Adrian tripled the weight (30kg) and doubled the distance (100km).

He reached 100km on day 16 and finished with an overall total of 180km.

“Trust me, this was way harder than the 16,000 push-ups that I did,” Adrian said.

“I was a few years younger and way, way fitter.

“As well as it being a tribute to my brother, I took part in the Lift The Load Challenge to re-ignite my fitness.

“I reckon I lost about 20 to 30cm off my belly.

“Man I was fat. Still good looking but fat,” Adrian said with tongue firmly wedged in his cheek.