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Duo on hair-raising ride

Carly LadenBroome Advertiser
Moustache Riders Steven Jenner and Josh Vermey.
Camera IconMoustache Riders Steven Jenner and Josh Vermey. Credit: Broome Advertiser, Carly Laden

As November draws to a close, many of Broome’s men and boys have been sporting a mo to support Movember but these guys are taking it to new terrain.

Mates Josh Vermey and Steven Jenner have not only been growing out their mo for Movember but they set off on a long bike ride in the name of charity.

Movember is an annual event that encourages men to grow a moustache during November to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide.

The duo, known as the Moustache Riders, set off on a 200km bike ride along the newly sealed Cape Leveque Road to Kooljaman on Monday and have raised more than $1300 along the way.

Mr Jenner said the idea to ride along Cape Leveque Road came a year after the pair rode from Broome to the Roebuck Roadhouse and back one November morning.

“We went to work after that, which made it a very big day for us,” he said.

Mr Vermey said the duo originally intended to ride to Derby but thought riding along Cape Leveque Road for about the same distance would be more fun.

“It was either ride along this awesome new road or dodge a few road trains, so we thought we’d ride up to the beautiful Kooljaman,” he said.

“Originally, we were going to ride there and back but we thought riding back would lose its prestige, so we’re taking the opportunity to spend a day out there and drive back.”

Mr Vermey said how much money they raised and whether they made it to Kooljaman in one piece was not important; the ride was all about starting a conversation about men’s health.

“Growing out a mo is a lot like wearing a mask and you can get away with being silly and cheeky,” he said.

“They’re definitely conversation starters and when you see others out there growing their mo, you know exactly why they’re doing it and you can have a chat.

“If we get one bloke to speak about their issues rather than internalising it, we’ve won.”

Since setting off on their ride, Vermey said the duo managed to avoid the Monday morning rain and made it to Beagle Bay before making the exectuive decision to drive the rest of the way to Kooljaman to avoid getting stuck in the floodways.

“We never got rained on, we just copped some wind and the humidity,” he said.

“We were around Middle Lagoon when I made a judgment call to stop riding as both Steve and I were close to heat stroke, even with constant fluid intake and sustenance.”

“However, our Mo-Sista, Yindi Newman, who joined us for the ride kept going like the legend she is and made it to Cape Leveque.

“I believe that makes her the first lady to ride the new road all the way.”

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