General News
1 May, 2023
Local Lifeline service supported by push-up challenge
Encouraging people to break a sweat for mental health, a suicide prevention service is asking the community to help save lives by taking on the Push-Up Challenge. Launched six years ago, the fitness-based initiative has brought together over 300,000...
Encouraging people to break a sweat for mental health, a suicide prevention service is asking the community to help save lives by taking on the Push-Up Challenge.
Launched six years ago, the fitness-based initiative has brought together over 300,000 individuals, clocking in more than 600 million push-ups while raising around $26 million for organisations like Lifeline Australia.
The not-for-profit is a beneficiary of the challenge for the third time in a row and has utilised the donated funds to bring more volunteers on board — ensuring that its critical support service is available at all times.
“So far almost $30,000 has been raised, which means we have been able to recruit and train a further 10 volunteers over the past two years,” Lifeline Loddon Mallee executive officer Lisa Renato said.
“We are really pushing the limits in 2023 and want to raise $20,000. [These] funds will go towards recruiting and training more volunteers — the cost of [this] is $3500 to start and the ongoing cost is approximately $10,000 per volunteer.
“With every new volunteer, we can answer an additional 312 calls each year.”
Emphasising the importance of maintaining adequate resources, Ms Renato said that a large number of people would receive support if the charity took on additional volunteers.
“For each group of 10 volunteers the ripple effect in the community is that 600 members receive direct benefit from the volunteers’ training,” she said.
“We also know that two percent of all calls are imminent suicide calls.”
This year, organisers of the Push-Up Challenge are asking people to do the exercise 3144 times between June 1 to 23 — with the number representing all those who died by suicide in Australia in 2021.
“The Push-Up Challenge is a wonderful way to raise awareness about mental ill-health and suicide prevention services in our community,” Ms Renato said.
“It also provides the participants a great way to get fit, collaborate with friends, family and work mates, as well as gives them daily insights, statistics and information on mental health throughout the challenge.”
To register and take part in the Push-Up Challenge visit www.thepushupchallenge.com.au
If you or a loved one need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyondblue at 1300 22 4636 or www.beyondblue.org.au.