Physios got mo-ving

Sam Leslie, Sam Donaldson, Matt Lee, Achille Maiotti and Domenic Salerno from My Physio, Wyndham Vale. Picture: Damjan Janevski

Growing facial hair turned into a team effort among staff at Wyndham Vale’s My Physio clinic last month.

Director Dominic Salerno, head sports physio Sam Leslie, and staff Sam Donaldson, Matt Lee and Achille Maiotti grew their best beards and moustaches for Movember, raising more than $1500 for men’s health.

Not people to do things by halves, the team also changed the clinic name to ‘Mo Physio’ during November, and added moustaches to its ‘running man’ symbols throughout the practice.

Clients were also encouraged to get in on the act and vote for the best ‘mo’ by making a gold coin donation, and they could buy special T-shirts to wear during exercise classes.

Mr Leslie said it’s the first time the entire clinic had taken part in the fundraising event, with staff members proudly rocking handlebar moustaches while others went for full-blown beards.

Mr Maiotti went one step further and dyed his moustache blue part-way through the month, but has since gone back to his trademark black, while Mr Donaldson copped some teasing when it took about three weeks for his moustache to grow.

“One of the big issues surrounding men’s health is a lack of exercise,” Mr Leslie said.

“The benefits of exercise are not just physical, but there’re also the mental benefits, and that was one of the things we were trying to promote, and have a bit of fun at the same time.

“It’s OK to be tough, but we still have to look after ourselves.”