Take part in The Push Up Challenge to raise awareness about the importance of mental health
Published Mon 29 May 2023
Fitness fanatics and people of all fitness levels are encouraged next month to take part in The Push Up Challenge to raise awareness about the importance of mental health.
From the 1st to the 23rd of June the Adelaide University Sport and Fitness (AUSF) team will be taking part in the challenge and we are encouraging staff from the team and staff at the University to join OUR community by signing up to do 3144 push ups over 23 days.
Why 3144? Well that is the amount of people that lost their lives to suicide in 2021 and the most recent year of data of all ages in Australia.
The idea for the challenge came through Adelaide University student Borna Morassaei who sent it through as a suggestion request.
AUSF Sports Programs Coordinator Tyson Blanco said the challenge would be a great idea for the campus and support a great cause.
“The challenge is a great way of getting rid of the stigma about talking about mental health in public,” Tyson said.
“It is also a great way to keep people physically active, encourages them to talk and relieves the stress that comes with studying at university.
“I have spent quite a few years on campus, I definitely know that you become less physically active and it can be very stressful.
“You tend to go into your shell a fair bit and don’t talk to people as much, it is the last push before first semester exams and generally a very busy time of year.
“It is also a great way of keeping engaged with people on their campus and faculties and if it’s with a group of friends you can push each other to get through it.”
Tyson said that there was also the option of registering to do half the amount of push ups and you can also do alternatives like squats, lunges, sit-ups and lunges.
You can create a team in our AUSF Community, join a team or support someone who is taking part. Help us push for better mental health! Find out more via the AUSF community page.
The best way to log your push ups for the challenge is by downloading the app.
