The Push-Up Challenge Raises $76,267 locally for CMHA Waterloo Wellington Mental Health Programs and Services

Mar 25, 2025

One thousand eighty-five champions have completed The Push-Up Challenge, raising an incredible $76,267 to support mental health programs delivered by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Waterloo Wellington. This record-breaking year showcased the power of collective action, as participants, workplaces, and communities came together to raise funds and awareness for mental health. 

Over the course of the challenge, participants completed 2,000 push-ups, each one representing a statistic related to mental health in Canada. From individual fundraisers to corporate teams, people of all ages and fitness levels stepped up—literally—to make a difference. 

Individuals like Amanda Garibaldi who crushed 2,185 pushups in 18 days and is still pushing each day as it’s been so good for her mental health! This is what she had to say about the Push-Up Challenge:

“My biggest takeaway at the end of the challenge was how much stronger I felt both mentally and physically after “pushing” through it. The support from my friends and family as well as the encouragement received from the Push for Better app gave me the motivation to keep going even when the task seemed overwhelming and impossible. This in itself is such a parallel to why this initiative is so important. It is critical that we offer services of support for those struggling so that they too have the motivation to keep pushing for another day. I am so glad to have been a part of the Push for Better challenge and so proud that I was able to raise $586 for CMHA WW! Cannot wait to do it again in 2026!” Click here to read more.

Our top individual fundraiser was Ian Brown raising $1,865.

The top team fundraiser was Pushing Together for Health under the Montrose Environmental Solutions Canada Community raised $4,863!

Corporate teams like Septodont had 97 staff members participating and raised $3,900 and Schlegel Villages with 38 participants raised an incredible $4,119! This is what Schlegel Villages had to say about the challenge:

“Nearly everyone in our villages knows someone—a friend, a family member, or a colleague—who is struggling with mental health, and the need for accessible support has never been greater. For us, supporting CMHA’s Push-Up Challenge is not just a fundraising effort; it’s a commitment to stand alongside those who need help and to break the silence surrounding mental health struggles. We believe in the power of community, and by participating, we’re reinforcing the message that mental health matters, and no one should face their challenges alone.” Click here to read more.