This June, Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney is encouraging Western and South West Sydney locals to push for better mental health by participating in Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge.
Participants will take on 3,249 push-ups across 24 days in June, putting the spotlight on the tragic number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022.
Thousands of Australians from all ages and walks of life participate in the event, which engages people in mental health through connection, physical activity and education.
Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney CEO Veronica Macdonald said, “The Push-Up Challenge is a great opportunity for Australians to talk about their mental health, learn how to best support each other and recognise when they might need to put their own hand up for help.
“Western Sydney locals have had so much fun pushing up and learning about mental health with us for the past three years, so we can’t wait to do it all again in 2024.
“Just like Lifeline’s services, The Push-Up Challenge is for everybody, connecting people through the transformative power of exercise while empowering them with ways they can make a positive difference in their lives and those around them.
“Funds raised through The Push-Up Challenge will support our services to be there for anyone, anytime, whatever the reason.”
From 5 to 28 June, participants of all ages and abilities will do push-ups while learning about mental health, with the number of daily push-ups changing to reflect a vital mental health fact.
If completing 3,249 push-ups feels out of reach, participants can set their own push-up goal, which can also be done as sit-ups, squats or tailored exercises, with progress tracked through a dedicated app.
Founder of The Push-Up Challenge, Nick Hudson, said, “The Push-Up Challenge is a great way to get fit, connect with your community and learn about mental health, all while honouring lives tragically lost to suicide.
“It’s likely everyone will experience a mental health issue at some point in their lives, so by getting down, pushing up and learning about mental health, we hope to break down the stigma attached to mental illness so that Australians don’t think twice about reaching out for help.”
Lifeline Macarthur and Western Sydney is encouraging people of all ages to join Team Lifeline in the Push-Up Challenge. It is a free event and you can register as an individual, a team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved.