Keep fit, stay connected and support mental health by joining headspace Lithgow in completing 3,046 push ups this May.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
This month headspace Lithgow has called on the community, local businesses, gyms and clubs to sign up to The Push Up Challenge to push for better mental health.
Thousands of participants across the country will connect virtually to challenge themselves psychically, learn about mental health and help raise awareness around mental health and the 2046 individuals in Australia who lost their lives to suicide in 2018.
headspace Lithgow Community Engagement Coordinator Jason Eggins said the challenge was a great mental health initiative to connect people together during the COVID-19 crisis.
"The connection between our physical health and mental health is well researched so we know how important it is to look after both.
"This challenge comes at a great time, when we're all looking for new approaches to connect socially in fun and healthy ways," he said.
Each day as part of the challenge participants will get down and push up, with the number of push ups each day changing to reflect a vital mental health statistic.
In 2019 almost 50,000 participants got involved in The Push Up Challenge, ranging in ages from 11 to 64 years-old.
Almost $2.5 million was raised for youth mental health services delivered through headspace.
Together, participants completed a total of 55 million push ups - that's two for every Australian.
Mr Eggins said young people have been hit hard by the coronavirus with massive interruptions to their education, substantial job loss and economic troubles.
"We encourage the community to band together and support local youth," he said.
He said headspace Lithgow encouraged people who sign up to think of local organisations to donate the money too.
"We encourage people to join us in raising money for young people in our community.
"We're hoping to use any funds raised to create more engaging programs for young people while we navigate this stressful period," he said.
The Push Up Challenge runs over 21 days, from Monday, May 11 to Sunday, May 31.
You can register as an individual, a team, or get your workplace, club or gym involved as a community at pushupchallenge.com.au.
Want to keep up to date with Lithgow news? Sign up to our newsletter and breaking news alerts here
