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Meet the participants | Push-Up Challenge 2026

Meet the participants | Push-Up Challenge 2026

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The Push-Up Challenge returns this June, running from Wednesday 3 to Friday 26 June.

This national initiative brings people together to build a community where it’s okay to speak up, check in on your mates, and look out for one another. This year our goal is to raise over $21,000, and complete over 400,000 pushups. Each participant will be aiming for 3,307 reps per person, representing the number of lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2024.

We invite you to support the challenge again this year. Funds raised go to The Push for Better Foundation, Lifeline, and headspace.

donate and learn more

2026 Goals

$21K+

Raise

400K+

Pushups completed

Teachers

Teachers who are participating in this year’s Push-Up Challenge.

Click on the profile image to read reflections from the teachers.

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push up challenge to test myself, connect with others, proactively improve my mental health, raise funds and awareness, and be involved in a great initiative.

Why should people donate?
All proceeds are going to Headspace. They are doing great things in the mental health space, with an emphasis on proactively improving mental health.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete the full challenge — 3,307 reps — likely across a combination of crunches, push-ups and lunges.

James Walsh

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I’m doing it to support mental health and model that small actions might prompt a conversation that sparks real change.

Why should people donate?
Our donations help create a world where every young person feels supported and never afraid to ask for help.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
3,307 — each one a quiet tribute to a life lost and a reminder of why this matters so much.

Anneke Blom

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To take on something I know will be hard and show myself I can get through the struggle — hopefully it gets easier as the days go by!

Why should people donate?
We’ve come a long way in supporting men’s mental health, but there’s still more to do — this organisation strikes a strong balance between raising awareness and taking action.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
It’s my third year doing the challenge, so I feel I should be taking on the full 3,307.

Andrew Light

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To not only challenge myself physically but also help push for better mental health and wellbeing, by showing people the significance of mental health problems and how we can support those struggling with them.

Why should people donate?
I believe people should donate, as it allows us to directly support those experiencing mental health problems by funding support networks such as Lifeline and headspace which can continue to provide necessary and accessible services to them.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I hope to reach the push up challenge’s full goal of 3307 push ups. I have not accomplished this before, but I look forward to putting in the effort to do so.

Jeremy Green

House and School Leaders

House and School Leaders who are participating in this year’s Push-Up Challenge.

Click on the profile image to read reflections from the students.

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge for two reasons. 1) To improve upper body strength and 2) (most important) to make people aware that mental health, obvious or not, exists and is present even with people you would never expect it to be present with. I think this challenge provides all of us with a deep sense of accountability and allows us to develop empathy with others.

Why should people donate?
People should donate not just because it raises money to fund facilities to help with mental health issues, but also to remind them of the importance of monitoring mental health. The way that this comes to reality is quite simply by being there for others, and being active as a community, not passive.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I’m aiming for the whole 3,307 push-ups.

Angus Edwards

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge to motivate my House to follow suit, ultimately raising awareness in the community about mental health.

Why should people donate?
People should donate to encourage those partaking in the push-up challenge to keep going, creating a chain reaction of bringing attention to mental health initiatives.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
All 3,307, and some more!

Utsav Panta

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing push-ups for mental health as a way to promote the mental health cause, raise awareness, and give myself a good fitness challenge.

Why should people donate?
People should donate because mental health is a very big issue in contemporary Australia. It is still the biggest cause of death for youth, and the more attention given to it to help those struggling seek help, the better.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete the full challenge.

Ben Macdessi

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To get fitter and stronger.

Why should people donate?
The donations go towards both saving lives and creating a happier society.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
The full amount – 3,307.

Nam Long Tran

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To support the initiative of other House leaders and their cause, which is mental health.

Why should people donate?
To be part of a push for better mental health awareness and support.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
1,000.

Theo Downing

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge to support better mental health and those who are affected by it.

Why should people donate?
Everyone should donate to support the global cause and encourage themselves to achieve the goal.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I aim to do 500 push-ups during this challenge.

Lencho Tsui

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push up challenge because I think that it is a great cause for raising awareness for mental health, with an added benefit being that it is a good incentive for me to improve my physical health.

Why should people donate?
It provides support to one of your chosen charities, which are all great services that aid people struggling with mental health issues, and on a personal level, it further encourages the person doing the challenge to keep going and finish the challenge.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete 1,654 push-ups, the half target, as in previous years I have been unsuccessful in reaching the full amount, so I chose a more achievable goal.

Jacob Love

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I’m partaking this year because I feel it is a great opportunity to buy in with a full-school initiative, and it’s a cause I truly believe in.

Why should people donate?
I don’t think people should feel pressured to donate, but whether you do or don’t, the most important thing is raising awareness about mental health and understanding contemporary mental health challenges as a whole school. Nevertheless, donations go directly towards psychologically supporting those in need.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
The lot 💪

Henry Ryan

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge because I think that mental health is a serious issue which needs to be addressed, so this is a great way of raising awareness and funding.

Why should people donate?
Because every single push-up in the challenge represents a life lost to suicide in the last recorded year, making this an incredibly important initiative.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming for the full target of 3,307 push-ups.

Rhys Howard-Jones

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To raise awareness for mental health alongside the school, as it is a very important cause.

Why should people donate?
All donations go to the person’s chosen charity and raise money for a great cause.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I aim to complete the full challenge with 3,307 push-ups — one for every person who lost their life to suicide in 2024.

Liam Mitchell-Zancanaro

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge to support NEW and raise awareness about mental health within our school community.

Why should people donate?
People should donate as it helps fund essential mental health services within Australia like Lifeline and Headspace.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete the full challenge by doing 3,307 push-ups in 24 days.

Ben Chamberlain

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
To both raise awareness for mental health while also working on my physical health. I’m hoping to get my maximum push-ups into double digits!

Why should people donate?
People should donate to help struggling people, as support networks can provide critical help to those close to you in life.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I’m aiming for the full 3,307, but will probably need to use some modified push-ups or jumping jacks to get over the line!

Gil Gracie

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge not just for my physical fitness, but also to help raise awareness for the mental health foundations that support it.

Why should people donate?
Mental health is a massive issue, especially when it’s cloaked under the mask of “banter” or “messing about”, and I think everybody faces it.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I’m aiming to complete the full challenge — 3,307 push-ups.

Adi Nivsarkar

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge to improve my fitness and raise awareness around mental health.

Why should people donate?
People should donate to help support those affected by mental health problems.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete the full 3,307 push-ups to the best of my ability.

Andrei Leed

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am doing the push-up challenge to take part in a great initiative that has been promoted and supported by my peers.

Why should people donate?
People should donate to recognise the importance of mental health, particularly for men and within a school context.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I am aiming to complete 1,654 push-ups.

Harry Whitaker

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I am participating in the Push-Up Challenge this year as I want to bring stronger awareness to mental health and encourage more open conversations.

Why should people donate?
Donating to the challenge acknowledges that mental health affects everyone. It helps support vital services while also raising awareness and building a positive community.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
This year I am aiming to complete 1,664 push-ups, the half target, as I have been unable to complete the full goal in the past.

Isaac Trpezanovski

Winter Sport Captains

Winter Sport Captains who are participating in this year’s Push-Up Challenge.

Click on the profile image to read reflections from the students.

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I’m doing the push up challenge to raise awareness for mental health, support those who may be struggling, and challenge myself for a cause that matters.

Why should people donate?
People should donate because even a small contribution can help fund mental health support, start important conversations, and make a real difference.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I’m aiming to complete all 3,307 push-ups across the challenge while staying consistent each day.

Oscar Newman

Why are you doing the Push-Up Challenge?
I’m doing the push up challenge to raise awareness for mental health and show my support to help those people who are silently struggling each day.

Why should people donate?
People should donate as funding can provide essential resources which can ultimately save lives.

How many push-ups are you aiming for?
I’m aiming to complete the push up challenge and do 3,307 push ups in 24 days.

Dom Tedesco

Ethan Lim

Meet the participants | Push-Up Challenge 2026

Meet the participants | Push-Up Challenge 2026