On November 29th, more than 10,000 Australians will lace up their running shoes and tackle distances of up to 30 kilometres to take action on a crisis that has been ignored too long.
Three out of four suicides in Australia are men. Yet traditional mental health services often fail to reach them. Stigma, outdated masculine stereotypes, and the discomfort of face-to-face therapy create barriers many men will not cross.
Now in its fifth year, [mo]re than a run, has become Australia’s largest community-driven response to men’s mental health, not through clinical settings, but through something people already do: run together.
Since 2020, the movement has raised $2.6 million for Movember’s suicide prevention and mental health programs, uniting more than 300 run clubs across Australia and New Zealand. What began as a handful of Sydney running groups has evolved into Movember’s largest global community fundraising event, proving that sometimes the most effective mental health intervention happens at running pace, not in a consulting room.
“We started this because movement has a way of unlocking conversation,” says [mo]re than a run co-founder Oliver Woolrych. “When people move side by side, barriers drop. Running connects physical and mental health, and that simple act of showing up together can open conversations that might never happen otherwise.”
Research supports what run clubs have long known: men bond side by side through shared activity rather than direct conversation. Running creates natural opportunities to open up without the pressure of eye contact or formal settings – making it one of the most effective tools for male mental health support outside clinical environments.
[mo]re than a run‘s flagship event for 2025, in partnership with Australian performance apparel brand LSKD as national partner, takes place at Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf precinct with thousands expected to take on 10-kilometre and 30-kilometre routes along the river. Runners will gather afterwards for recovery sessions, live music, and a community celebration.
Simultaneously, thousands of local runs will take place across Australia and New Zealand – from major cities to regional towns – creating spaces for people to show up, move together, and talk if they need to.
“It’s not just about one 30-kilometre run,” says Woolrych. “It’s about people realising they can show up, that they’re not alone, and that asking for support doesn’t make them weak. That realisation can save lives.
[mo]re than a run welcomes Australians of all fitness levels. Participants can choose their distance, join an existing run club, form a team with mates, or run virtually.
