Fuzzy Cuzzy’s Movember fundraiser

You’ve heard of growing a fuzzy moustache for Movember, but what about the Fuzzy Cuzzy?

A Canterbury brewery has managed to raise thousands of dollars for men’s health issues after it developed a limited-edition beer with 100 per cent of the profit going to the Movember Foundation.

The Fuzzy Cuzzy is a New England IPA that was created by Brew Moon Brewing when the brewery’s head of sales and accounts, Oscar McCauley, saw an opportunity to ditch the moustache and raise money for Movember on a bigger scale.

Movember is an annual event that involves men growing moustaches during November to raise money and awareness for health issues affecting men such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and male suicide.

McCauley started fundraising 12 years ago by growing a ‘‘pathetic little moustache’’ at 18 years old.

Once he got involved in the family business he realised there was a way to transform the couple of hundred dollars he was raising into thousands. ‘‘If I grow a moustache, I’m just asking for a donation from you,’’ he explained. ‘‘But if you can do something like this and actually make a product that you are selling to people, you are creating value that wasn’t there beforehand.’’

Moon Brew Brewing expected to raise at least $6000 for Movember by the end of the year, putting the total amount it had raised over the years to more than $20,000. McCauley said the team was able to donate all the profits with the help of suppliers Gladfield Malt and New Zealand Hops Ltd, which donated the ingredients.

Movember was an important cause for McCauley, who has a friend badly affected by mental health. ‘‘Everyone’s got that story, it’s so widespread now that it’s something that desperately needs to change,’’ he said.

Harry Miller, spokesperson for the Movember Foundation NZ, said this year’s campaign had been the most significant, with the number of people participating and funds raised already surpassing last year’s numbers. Miller said Brew Moon Brewing’s Fuzzy Cuzzy is a good example of the various ways people can get involved, and taps into what men already love to do.