Sisters Katie Hallinan and Belinda Presland are not about to trim their support for men’s health, with the Battery World Maitland franchise partners joining forces for the third year to raise money for Movember.

The duo has turned their Maitland store into a November fundraising hub, with last year’s campaign raising more than $5,200 for the Movember Foundation thanks to the unwavering support of the local community and their passionate team members.

According to the Movember Foundation, men are dying on average 4.5 years earlier than women for largely preventable reasons, with around 10.8 million globally facing prostate cancer, testicular cancer being the most common cancer among young men, and one man dying by suicide every minute of every day globally.

Katie said engaging with the local community and starting the conversation about mental health was a subject close to home.

“Men’s health is something that affects all of us – whether it’s our fathers, brothers, partners, or friends,” Katie said.

“I’m proud to use our local business as a platform to raise awareness and funds for such an important cause.”

This year’s fundraising drive featured a raffle with prizes including a portable Dual Battery System, Bluetooth speaker, power pack, branded merchandise, and battery accessories worth more than $3,000.

“We’ve received incredible support from our suppliers who have donated raffle prizes, and our customers have been fantastic in getting behind the cause,” Katie said.

“It’s about more than just raising money – it’s about starting conversations in our community about men’s health and letting blokes know it’s okay to talk about what they’re going through.”

During the month of November, Battery World customers have been able to purchase Movember-themed merchandise from the ‘mo store’, including fake mos, umbrellas, stationery, lollies, and more.

Battery World General Manager, Johnny Kennedy said the franchise network is committed to backing initiatives that tackle men’s health challenges head-on.

“Movember has an incredible ability to unite communities around a cause that truly matters,” Johnny said.

“We actively encourage our franchise partners across Australia to support charities and causes that resonate with them locally. Movember stands out as a leader in confronting the serious health issues impacting men nationwide.”

IMAGE | Sisters Katie Hallinan and Belinda Presland from Battery World are again supporting Movember with an in-house event.