Anytime Fitness Echuca to undertake Push-Up Challenge

Participants will complete 3249 push-ups over 24 days between June 5 and 28 to represent the 3249 lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2022 (the last year of available data).

If that is too many push-ups, you can also aim for half the push-up target (1625) or complete alternative exercises such as sit-ups, air squats or wall push-ups if you can’t do regular push-ups.

Anytime Fitness Echuca Club manager Shannon Mills is excited about the event despite being nervous about the number of push-ups that need to be completed.

“I am participating in the challenge this year; I’m a bit nervous because push-ups are not my speciality,” she said.

“I am very excited for the challenge, and I have spoken to a few of the members, and they’re really excited, too.

“I can’t wait to see how many people get on board and the awareness we can bring to mental health, let alone how we can work together as a community to raise much-needed funds as well.”

Ms Mills also highlighted the importance of such an initiative for promoting exercise and mental health awareness and how the two often went hand in hand.

She also spoke about the opportunity to work as a team and push each other to achieve success as a community.

“The challenge is good because it emphasises the importance of physical exercise and its benefits on our mental health, especially regarding endorphins, creating better habits and the social aspects of it as well,” she said.

“It’s a great opportunity for camaraderie in completing the challenge in a team. You can always get a little more out of the tank when you have someone to encourage and push you along.”

Anytime Fitness Echuca aims to raise $500 for the Push for Better Foundation to help people struggling with mental health issues.

If you would like to join or donate to the Anytime Fitness Echuca Push-Up Challenge, visit the website: The Push-Up Challenge - AF ECHUCA 2024 (thepushupchallenge.com.au)