Albany electrician Alex Said hopes to spark mental health awareness and funds with the Push-Up Challenge

An Albany electrician is powering through push-ups to raise money for a cause close to his heart, and says his efforts have sparked important and honest conversations in his circle.

Alex Said is taking part in the Push-Up Challenge with the goal of completing 3214 push-ups in 23 days to raise funds and awareness for mental health.

Running from June 4-26, each push-up represents the 3214 lives lost to suicide in Australia in 2023.

This is the first year Mr Said has taken part and, now at the half-way point, he is overwhelmed by the support.

“It’s a message close to my heart as something I’ve suffered from in my past,” he said.

“It’s a silent killer, and since I’ve had a few losses myself, I thought this was something I can get involved in because I like to keep fit anyway.”

His original target of $500 proved too modest and, with donations now at the $1970 mark, he has upped his goal to $3000.

Alongside a few donations from random strangers, Mr Said said his community, including his workmates at J & S Castlehow Electrical Services, and members of his muay thai gym, church, and volunteer group had “really gotten behind it”.

“I start my morning with 100 to start the day on a good note, then a few throughout the day, where sometimes I get my work colleagues to jump in at lunchtime,” he said.

“The team has jumped on board really well as it’s such a good feeling of camaraderie where there are 30 or 40 of us at a toolbox meeting doing the push-ups and then having a chat afterwards.

“We do talk about mental health, but it is kind of a taboo subject still so this is really good for that, I think.”

Despite realising each of his 1805 already-completed push-ups are worth just over a dollar, Mr Said said it was these conversations that he found invaluable.

“It’s about getting other people involved because obviously its not just about the push-ups, it’s about spreading the message,” he said.

“It’s realising that it’s not about being tough, its about getting around each other.

“We can all be suffering inside but we don’t need to be alone.”

Donations can be made on Mr Said’s page on the Push-Up Challenge website.