COBDEN residents took on a special challenge in June.
More than 50 people took part in the Push Up Challenge raising more than $3000 in the process.
The challenge ran between the June 1 and 24, with participants encouraged to complete 3139 push ups – or as many as they could over the course.
The challenge was a national mental health, suicide awareness and fitness initiative.
Cobden Technical School student Willoughby Perriss, who championed the initiative locally, said donations go towards any of the three foundations, Lifeline, Movember or Pushforbetter.
3139 represents the number of suicides in Australia in 2021.
“Some donors preferred to remain anonymous, to those people, thank you very much, some put in $100-200 and weren’t even looking for recognition and for that I have a lot of respect,” he said.
“There is no doubt about it, this cause means something to everyone and that is why I feel it was so important to have our community involved.”
The original goal of $1000 was surpassed, with participants helping to raise $3007 while completing a collective 68,153 pushups.
“My goal in the beginning was to not only raise funds to support mental health foundations, lifeline, movember and pushforbetter, but to also raise awareness of suicide and mental health,” Willoughby said.
“The challenge, hopefully outlined to most people involved, that 3139 push ups is a lot, and when you put that into the context of people taking their own lives, you realise this number is way too high."
“The community support was incredible, nearly 50 people registered to our community and countless others participated informally."
“The younger students of Cobden Technical School got amongst the action and competed to see who could do the most push ups.”
Willoughby said Thommo’s Hotel collaborated and hosted ‘Push Ups at the Pub’ on Sunday, June 19.
“The donation tin filled up with $670 over two weeks. Michael Torpin, myself and some of the pub crew would be doing one pushup for every dollar donated in the tine,” he said.
“On the Sunday of the event 30 to 40 people came in to share the load of 3139 push ups over just two hours, amazingly we got them done."
“Special mention to Belinda Davies for organising the event.”
Willoughby thanked the Cobden Rotary Club for its donation of $750, along with a donation from the Cobden Technical School of $101.
“On Friday, June 24, the last day of the challenge and the last day of term two for school students a fundraiser barbecue was held,” he said.
“Participants of the challenge from all around our community were invited. We raised $101 on the day.
“Everyone completed the last of the push ups together on the basketball court to celebrate together.”