QFES Mackay team are swimming 60km for men's mental health

The team are participating in the Movember challenge which is globally recognised for its fun, disruptive approach to creating awareness and unique ways it prompts men to take action for their health.

Since 2003, more than six million men and women from across 20 countries have joined Movember's global men's health movement, helping men across the world live happier, healthier, longer lives.

"Movember is one of the largest non-government investors in research and quality-of-life initiatives for men that impact the global population," a Movember spokesperson said.

"Men's health is in crisis. Globally, men are dying six years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons.

"As the leading charity tackling mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer on a global scale, Movember is making change happen."

Many QFES crews across Queensland are participating in the Movember cause, raising a total $26,198 so far and the crews leading the tally board are Kingaroy Fire with $7933; Far Northern Fire and Rescue with $5065; Ormeau Rural Fire Brigade $4390 and hoping to come out on top is the Fire and Rescue Mackay "That's us...gotta Mo" team with $2630 raised.

QFES Mackay are putting in their effort and time, setting themselves a challenge to see if they can suit up and swim 60km in one day.

That will be 60km for the 60 men lost to suicide each hour, every hour around the world.

Mackay firefighter Tim Curtin is one of the crew members participating in the Movember challenge and he said Fire and Emergency services personnel are directly impacted by men's health.

"The Mackay Fire and Rescue put together a team relay, so we're going to do 60km (swim) in the pool as a team relay on the 26th of November, and it's going to take about seven to eight hours and we just thought, do it for Movember," Mr Curtin said.

"Every year most of the boys grow a moustache but we've never really done a big team challenge and we've actually got a firefighter up from Brisbane and she came up with the idea of the swim.

"We thought why don't we make a little bit more difficult and make it a team challenge rather than just an individual challenge and set up the team and start the swim."

Mr Curtin said they are looking for donations from the community to support men's mental health.

"We're talking to the aviation firefighters and seeing if they're interested but at the moment we'll just run it with the 32 fire and rescuers," Mr Curtin said.

"We're looking for donations from the community and businesses and we've signed up for a team page on the Movember website.

"At the moment we're just under $3000; I think if we get close to say $5000 or $8000 that will be great, so we'll aim for $5000 and see what happens from there."