​CMHA urges community to participate in Push-Up Challenge

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Grey Bruce is encouraging the community to push for better mental health by participating in the fitness-based mental health initiative, the Push-Up Challenge next month.

The event has participants taking on 2,000 push-ups, representing approximately 2,000 lives lost to suicide each day, worldwide. The challenge begins Feb. 18 and runs for 18 days.

“Last year was the first time we participated in the Push-Up Challenge and it was an incredible success, raising more than $33,000 locally to support mental health services,” said Don Vail, communications and funding manager at CMHA Grey Bruce.

“But the real success went beyond the dollars raised. It was the conversations about mental health that happened throughout our community. Those moments of connection and understanding are what truly make a difference and help break down the stigma around mental health.”

The Push-Up Challenge is a free event, and fund-raising is optional. People can choose whether to raise money to support the CMHA.

Participants of all ages and abilities will take on the challenge while learning about mental health, with the daily number of push-ups changing to highlight an important mental health fact. Alternatives to push-ups, such as sit-ups, squats, or other exercises, are encouraged, and people can also set their own total push-up goal.

Progress can be tracked through logging progress through a dedicated application (app) which also allows you to easily fund-raise and see how your friends are doing with the event.

The Push-Up Challenge has been taking place in Australia for the past eight years, with more than 700,000 participants completing 1.2-billion push-ups and raising more than $50-million for mental health.

This year marks the second time the event will take place Canada, run by the CMHA.

Last year, more than 49,000 Canadians challenged themselves to complete 2,000 push-ups and raised an incredible $2.4-million.

You can register for challenge as an individual, a team, or get your whole workplace, club, gym or school involved at: www.thepushupchallenge.ca/home?lightbox=/register-select&utm_campaign=cmha-43 (unique link to specifically support CMHA Grey Bruce).