We’ve got some BIG news to drop today, crew – The Push-Up Challenge is officially going international. Yep, we’re taking our mission to engage more people in mental health through connection, physical activity and education GLOBAL, with our first international event kicking off in Canada this Thursday.
From February 1-23, 2024, our Canadian friends will #pushforbetter with us in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). This event will see Canadians smashing out 2,000 push-ups in 23 days, for the 20% of Canadians who will experience a mental illness each year.
Our founder, Nick Hudson, was recognised as 2024 WA Australian of the Year Local Hero at the Australian of the Year Awards in Canberra last week, says the move has been in the works for a while: “The community and camaraderie of Canadians is not dissimilar to that of Australians, and I can’t wait to make a positive impact on the mental health of Canadians with our partners at CMHA.”
The Push-Up Challenge has grown rapidly since its inception in 2017. To date over 500,000 Australian participants have completed 900 million push-ups and raised over $40 million for mental health. The event has also developed a registered charity, Push for Better Foundation, which funds mental health education initiatives.
By expanding internationally, we hope to expand our impact and allow more people to improve their mental health literacy, have important chats around mental health, and benefit from the challenge physically and mentally.
Margaret Eaton, National CEO of the Canadian Mental Health Association said The Push-Up Challenge is a great way to support the Canadians who experience mental illness each year: “Everyone has mental health and it’s likely we all will experience a mental health issue at some point in our lives. By pushing up and learning about mental health, we hope to break down the stigma attached to mental illness so that Canadians don’t think twice about reaching out for help, while offering them a new way to get active and connect with their community.”
Follow along on our next adventure on socials @pushforbetterca (and if you’re based in Canada, this is your friendly push to register here and join The Push-Up Challenge Canada).
