In 2022, Central Coast Sports College student Zayd Husain joined his school mates in taking part in Australia’s largest mental health and fitness event, The Push-Up Challenge.
This year, the Year 12 student took it a step further by becoming a Student Ambassador for the program.
This saw the promising football player – he has signed with the Mariners – organise and encourage his entire school, from Year 7 to 12, to take part in the challenge which took place over the course of one month.
Over the month, students managed to complete more than 200,000 push-ups, raising more than $6,000 along the way.
“It was a challenge,” Zayd said.
“Balancing my schoolwork and sport and running the program all by myself, but as a sport school, I think good mental health is important.”
Zayd said the program helped him develop new skills like time management, public speaking and running events.
“It was a great learning tool,” he said.
Organisers behind the Push-Up Challenge are now calling on students passionate about mental health to apply for the 2024 Student Ambassador program.
Student Ambassadors will lead their school mates, teachers and school community in The Push-Up Challenge by cheering them on to get fit, have fun and learn about mental health.
Students completing Year 10, 11 and Year 12 in 2024 anywhere in Australia can apply to be a Student Ambassador and make a difference to the mental health of their school community.
They will be equipped with mental health awareness training, resources and leadership support to co-ordinate The Push-Up Challenge at their school.
Founder of The Push-Up Challenge, Nick Hudson, says the Student Ambassador program is one of the team’s proudest achievements to date.
“Watching students from around the country bring their communities together through fun and fitness is such a special thing,” he said.
“Students and school groups are some of our most passionate participants because they care wholeheartedly about learning about mental health and coming together to achieve a common goal.
“When we think about mental health, we often think of mental illness.
The Student Ambassador program aims to help students positively reframe this perception by providing tools to increase their mental health knowledge and build confidence in encouraging conversations about mental health with their peers and community.
“This year we had over 490 Student Ambassadors lead 18,276 students from around the country to complete millions of push-ups and raise nearly $700,000 for mental health.
To learn more about The Push-Up Challenge’s Student Ambassador program and apply to take part, visit www.thepushupchallenge.com.au.
Source:
CCN