This month, more than 50 O’Brien® employees are taking part in the Push for Better challenge, an initiative that helps support mental health services in Australia.
Across the business, we have four teams taking part. Each individual is aiming to complete 3,318 push-ups over 25 days. 3,318 represents the lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2019. It’s a lot. And by raising awareness and some much-needed funds for critical charities such as Lifeline, the O’Brien® team is hoping to make a difference.
Beth Pope, team leader of the O’Brien® Commercial team, has had first-hand experience with mental illness and is taking part to support charities she says do life-saving work in this area.
“We know that COVID has had a huge impact on people’s mental health and charities such as Lifeline and Headspace have been under significant pressure in 2020, so it’s good to show support for them in this way.”
Phil Holmes, team member of the O’Brien® Commerical team, is a veteran Push for Better challenge participant, with 2021 marking his third year taking part.
“I have been fortunate in my life, and I am always looking at ways in which I can help people. Australia has one of the highest rates of suicide per capita in the world, especially young males. We must find a way to help prevent people from giving up and taking their own lives. Every dollar raised goes towards us achieving that. This is my 3rd challenge and I love participating and pushing myself through “good pain”.”
The challenge is broken down into daily tasks; 130 push-ups one day, 105 the next, 142 the next and so on, with 200 push-ups in a single day being the highest target. But for anyone thinking it’s a breeze, Beth assures us it’s a real physical challenge.
“I’m pretty fit and do something active most days but on day 3, even my arms are sore.”
If you would like to show your support for one of the O’Brien® teams taking part in Push for Better this June, please click on the following link to view our progress and donate: https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/community/oooobrien
