I am a big fan of the “challenge” movement for charities and research. Not only are they proving effective for raising funds and awareness for very worthy causes, they are a great deal of fun for us fans. The latest challenge is the Polished Man Challenge aimed at ending violence against children. Founded by the Australian charity YGAP, Polished Man asks men to paint one nail for the month of October. The challenge is male specific is because, as the organization says, “90% of all sexual violence against children is perpetrated by men.” The hope is that any teasing brought about by the nail polish will allow the polished man, “to start conversations and challenge the culture from where they stand.” The significance of only one nail is two-fold. A few years back, YGAP CEO Elliot Costello met and bonded with a young girl in Cambodia who painted his nails blue. Upon hearing her horrible story of abuse later, he decided to paint one nail to remember her by. It also serves to represent the 1 in 5 kids globally who are subjected to physical or sexual violence before they turn 18.
First up: Chris “The Greater” Hemsworth. He gets the title of the post not just because of my unbridled lust for him but because Chris has been a champion against child abuse for years. He signed up for the challenge two weeks ago but reposted Monday with some nominations, which I think was just started to bring the challenge more attention. Chris tapped Little Bro Liam, Zac Efron, Robert Downey, Jr., Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo and Tom Hiddleston. You know Ruffalo will do it and I am fairly certain Hiddleston will too, even if he doesn’t get to make one of his little videos.
Liam “The Lesser” Hemsworth stepped up to the challenge, nominating his oldest brother Luke, professional surfer Kelly Slater and Jimmy Fallon. Without switching my Hemsworth Brothers’ allegiance, I prefer the shade Liam chose:
Zac Efron accepted the challenge and nominated James Marsden, Hugh Jackman, Andy Devine, Workaholics’ Anders Holm and Blake Anderson and DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers:
Pretty Little Liars‘ Tyler Blackburn posted last week:
Australian Gold Medalists (and devilishly handsome) Michael Klim, who is a longtime children’s advocate, also posted twice:
You can sign up or donate here and you can follow #PolishedMan on Twitter to see who else has posted. The Mister signed up and my daughter painted his nail after squabbling over the color (she won). You can see his pic here. We attempted a checkerboard but settled for an offside cross as I suck at nail art.
Photo Credit: Fame/Flynet Photos and Instagram
This is the sweetest thing. 💅🏼
I love this!!! ❤️❤️❤️
I quite like these challenge things too – because it’s civilians and celebs doing them. Good community spirit. We have one going about here in Britland just now, involving push-ups (in aid of a veteran PTSD charity) that Mr Sixer has just done.
Yes, saw that one on BBC’s Vine (some dude brought his dog along, and the dog actually did the push-ups with him! Smart dog). I hope they use some of the funds they manage to raise to research MDMA/psychedelics to treat PTSD. Saw a documentary on NatGeo how the scientist who invented (Alexander Shulgin) them initially started off creating chemicals for psychological warfare, then had all his work shut down because people started abusing them (as a party drug). Now they’ve just discovered that they can be quite effective in treating PTSD.
Well done, Mr. Sixer. Extra lemon drizzle for him. Several of my friends and co-workers have done the push-up one as well.
Well done. Yet, it seems like the 22 push up challange didn’t really took off like ALS challange except for Charlie Hunnam who took it to the next level and did the challange for 22 days. Now that is real commitment
I agree Sixer it’s that aspect of community between everyone that gets me too.
Was the challenge the 22 Push-ups? My friends and I did that one as well.
Yep. 22 push ups. Mr Sixer supports Combat Stress anyway, so was there early on for it.
I do think these things are great levellers.
Two thumbs up for Mr. Sixer!! That’s awesome.
We have the push up one going on here also. Pops up on my FB every once in a while. My daughter did it.
The 22 Pushup Challenge has arrived here in Germany. After seeing this thread earlier, I just came across a post from my hometown’s airport, sharing a video that announced the airport’s fire brigade has done it and is challenging various other aviation-related companies/entities here in Hamburg, Airbus Industries among them.
It looks like the challenge took its time but will get a greater audience now.
Thanks for covering the story
Michael Klim is single and socially active. Yummy.
With all the mess of Republicans coming out to say ALL men talk about sexually assaulting women like Trump and all the increased violence, I very much appreciate this story of men standing up against sexual and physical violence. This made my day. I LOVE the challenges. It’s a fun way to encourage charity giving.
Thanks for covering this challenge, Hecate!
I love this challenge. What a great and worthy cause. I really hope the funds raised can make a difference.
Now on a superficial note, I know it’s not a competition but I like Michael Kim’s best.
“I really hope the funds raised can make a difference.” Agree
Another superficial note…
Blonds, usually, don’t do it for me. But, in CHs case, I’d make an exception… because that’s the kind of woman I am. You’re welcome, Chris Hemsworth.
It’s time for someone to challenge @real Donald trump 🎀
I like this challenge, and it also challenges gender norms, yay for male polish.
Fantastic challenge!! Certainly a nice change from He Who Is An Orange Abuser.
C’mon, Loki, paint it black.
I love CH anyway, but this just draws the line under it. The challenges meme is such a great way to bring attention to good causes.
Find it hard to word about this, but yes. Yes.
Nice nail, Mr Hecate.