The Push-Up Challenge

The Push-Up Challenge is a free mental health and fitness event focused on pushing for better mental health for all Canadians.

Each push-up represents a life lost to suicide

From February 11 to 28, 2025, participants will complete 2,000 push-ups, which represents the ~2,000 lives lost to suicide each day, worldwide

If push-ups aren’t your thing, you can still participate. Substitute push-ups with alternative exercises, like sit-ups, squats, jumping jacks – anything goes. You can also choose to aim for 50% of the push-up target and smash out 1,000 push-ups instead of 2,000.

Registration is officially open for the 2025 Push-Ups Challenge!

How it Works:

GET DAILY TARGETS AND FACTS:

Each day of the Challenge, we’ll set a different daily push-up target that relates to an important Mental Health Fact. These daily targets add up to 2,000 push-ups overall. You can track your progress and see the facts on our free app.

EVERYONE CAN PARTICIPATE:

You don’t have to be a push-up pro to participate. You can substitute push-ups with sit-ups, squats or other alternative exercises. You can also choose to aim for 50% of the push-up target and smash out 1,000 push-ups instead of 2,000.

GO SOLO OR JOIN A TEAM:

You can participate solo, or set up a Team and invite your friends, work, school, gym or sports club to join you.

How to get involved:

1. Start by registering as an individual, a team or a community here: The Push-Up Challenge : Home
2. Select CMHA Niagara from the list of all branches to support
3. Once registered, share your page and begin recruiting team members and/or donations. For big groups, sign up as a Community to create a collection of Teams.
4. Begin your countdown to February 11, 2025!! Download the free app to check your daily push-up targets, bank push-ups and read the daily Mental Health Facts throughout the challenge.

https://www.thepushupchallenge.ca/the-app

Your effort can make a big impact

You can support Canadians who need it most by choosing to fundraise specifically for CMHA Niagara branch or CMHA National. Fundraising is optional but it’s a great way to make a difference and get your family and friends involved in the push for better mental health.

Every dollar you raise will help CMHA to support recovery from mental illness and foster positive mental health outcomes.

Other ways you can make an impact

Spread the word about the Challenge and why you have chosen to participate to help reduce the stigma around mental ill-health. Together, we can make a big impact.

Encourage and inspire others to join you, so they can improve their physical and mental fitness, learn more about mental health and help make a difference, too.

Use the Mental Health Facts you learn throughout the Challenge to start a conversation about mental health and help educate others.