Mo money for charity

05 December 2008

   Runner up Rio Tinto fundraiser Anthony Pintabona and his godchild Julian Del RiccioRio Tinto employees put the Mo back on the face of fashion and in the process raised some serious funds for key men's health issues.

 Mo bros and sistas emerged from operation sites across the state for this year’s Movember, a month long event to raise funds and awareness for male health issues including prostate cancer and male depression.

 This year the selected Australian partners for Movember are The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. 

 This Choose your own Charity event is one of six charity events to be supported by Rio Tinto in 2008, with Rio Tinto contributing up to $20,000 per event.

 A total of 118 Rio Tinto employees pulled together to raise an amazing $22,703.86, with Mo bros and sistas from all of our operations getting behind the cause. With Rio Tinto’s contribution, the total amount raised will exceed $40,000. This placed Rio Tinto in the Top 30 of corporate teams in Australia.

 Rio Tinto's leading fundraiser put in a remarkable effort, with over $1000 being raised by Dan Gitsham at HIsmelt. Runner up was Mesa A project engineer Anthony Pintabona, just short of the leading figure with a sum of $998.20.

 Anthony Pintabona said he was driven by the opportunity to change people perceptions around men’s health.

 “My motivation to take part was to increase awareness of Men’s health issues within my workplace and also take part in some friendly competition against others within the business,” Anthony said.

 “I believe that often men don’t take their health seriously and are afraid to seek help for depression or get regular check ups. This perception of she’ll be right needs to change.”

 For more information on Movember, The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia or beyondblue please visit http://au.movember.com/.