More than $2,500 raised so far! Thank you to everyone who has supported the team and made a donation - it's not too late to get involved!

Click here to support the Movember Foundation and our Fortress 40 team.

Well done to the team of eight Prefects - Jake Maskill, Jack Trotter, Saem Millward, Nic Verry, Jamie Bennett, Sam McKerras, Jack Redington and Jack Aitken-Cade - who pushed themselves to their physical limits for 40 hours to raise awareness of men's mental health and to raise funds for the Movember Foundation.

Beginning in the pouring rain and 8.00am and on Friday, September 20th and finishing at midnight on Saturday 21st, the team undertook a series of gruelling physical activities, interspersed with several games to allow other young men to join in. Throughout the 40 hours, the team learned a lot about themselves as individuals, but also a lot about functioning as a team and the importance of working together and supporting each other - great lessons that can be applied to our mental health.

It was fantastic to note the support the team received from their peers. Large numbers of young men called in during the 40 hours to offer encouragement and to get involved where possible. Watch some of the highlights below:

Fortress 40 is a 40-hour endurance challenge designed to push participants to their physical and mental limits, in support of men's mental health awareness. The event is run in conjunction with the Movember Foundation, a leading charity dedicated to tackling men's mental health issues, as well as several other Super Eight schools.

During Fortress 40, a group of Prefects will embark on a challenging journey, engaging in intense training activities. Some of these activities will be open to all students, allowing them to support and make a difference. Through this gruelling experience, our team aims to highlight the importance of mental resilience and well-being, especially among young men.

By coming together and pushing our limits, we can shed light on the challenges faced by men and encourage open discussions about mental health.

We would be extremely grateful to have the support of the Palmy Boys’ community for this event. Your involvement would support the movement for men's mental health and provide a unique opportunity for students to challenge themselves and make a positive difference in their community.

After the Fortress 40 challenge was over Jake, Saem and Jamie reflected on their experiences and what they learned through pushing themselves physically and mentally to their limits:

New Zealamnd men, especially young men, are over-represented in a wide range of negative statistics and we congratulate Jake Maskill and our team of Prefects for taking the initiative to work towards changing this context.

Prominent on the PNBHS Fortress 40 crest is the Castle from our school crest. The Castle represents strength; physical strength, mental strength and strength of character. Our strength comes from our dedication, our determination and the resilience we develop through our willingness to take on challenges and striving to do our best when faced with adversity. Another measure of strength is our willingness to ask for help and support from others when we need it and that’s OK. Strength also comes from the way we look out for our brothers by offering help and support.

Click here to support the Movember Foundation and our Fortress 40 team.