HOPE.
Let the conversation begin.
Blog post by Kerry Martin, CEO and Founder, Hope Xchange Nonprofit. Hope Xchange is honored to be one of 15 featured charities taking part in the #sixtysecondchallenge, a global initiative to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention. And, as CEO and Founder, I am also incredibly honored to be working with kindred spirits in both the United States and Australia to build collaborative bridges to help drive this effort at such a critical time — every 40 seconds, someone in the world is lost to suicide and every 41 seconds, someone is left wondering why. Hope Xchange's mission is to prevent suicide and improve mental health outcomes in the bipolar community, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable and high risk, our youth and LGBTQIA. It is estimated that bipolar depression accounts for nearly half of all suicides each year in the U.S., with 50% of those with bipolar disorder attempting suicide and 11% to 20% taking their own lives. We are dedicated to changing this. How I Tackled My #SixtySecondChallenge: Lifting Up Hand of Someone DepressedThe challenge first asks you to donate at sixtysecondchallange.com to a featured charity and then do as many push-ups as you can in 60 seconds, as creatively as you can and, to have fun with it. I elected to take it in a manner befitting of Hope Xchange's mission. (And, also because I work too much right now — a temporary state of affairs I can assure you — so I'm out of shape right now to be honest!) We believe in healing with hope and, in our HOPE for Bipolars mentoring program, we sometimes find ourselves helping others get themselves up and out of bed, something I'm sure most of us can relate to. Hence the nature of my challenge - lifting someone else's hand up who is in bed rather than lifting my own body up albeit I did manage to do it 102 times! Who Did I Nominate to Take #SixtySecondChallenge? :)I nominate the following three kindred spirits to take on the push-up challenge and, in turn challenge their friends to do the same:
And, to all! It’s really easy to get on board! Together, let’s give those who need a lift, a push-up! Let's put an end to people taking their lives and start saving lives. Go to the website now and let’s all make a difference together. Remember too that while suicide is a serious subject, we're trying to lift up those who are down. So when you take your challenge think out of the box and have fun with it. You could do your push-ups with a child on your back, lifting your pet in the air, or raising someone's arm up in triumph. Or, do your push-ups on your knees, leaning against a wall, or tag team and take turns lifting your partner up. Whatever you think will put a smile on the face of those who are struggling to hold on. Learn More About #SixtySecondChallenge Global Initiative and Meet Hall of Hope AmbassadorsThe global initiative seeks to raise awareness and support for suicide prevention by encouraging people to give those who need a lift, a “push-up.” Participants will do sixty seconds of push-ups, which can be done creatively, donate to one of the featured charities, and challenge three friends to do the same. Challenge participants can donate to one of 15 mental health organizations from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom and, if interested in getting more involved, can also set up their own fundraising page on the Every Day Hero platform.
The campaign kicked off on World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th and will run through World Mental Health Awareness Day on October 10th. The team behind the global #SixtySecondChallenge includes from Australia: Ivan Schwartz, Managing Director of Imagine Foundation, Kaine Costello, Head of Partnerships and Innovation at Everydayhero, Erin Macauley, Chief Operating Officer at Suicide Shatters Families, and Joe Williams, International Speaker and Founder of The Enemy Within; and from the United States: Kerry Martin, CEO and Founder of Hope Xchange Nonprofit, and Eric Kussin, Founder at We're All A Little Crazy. More information can be found at www.SixtySecondChallenge.com and the September 12, 2017 press release by SLICE Communications can be read here. Comments are closed.
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