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12 days of Christmas - mental health awareness challenge

By Chace Eldridge Join Me

Welcome!

Starting on December 1, I will be completing a tough physical challenge every day for 12 days. I am aiming to both raise awareness of some shocking mental health statistics and raise money for an organisation committed to reversing these statistics.

The self-imposed 12 days of Christmas - mental health awareness challenge is as follows:

Day 1 - take 65,000 steps. Why? 65,000 people attempt suicide in Australia every year.

Day 2 - 703 flights of stairs on stair master. Why? 703,000 people die globally each year from suicide.

Day 3 - 3214 squats. Why? 3214 people died from suicide in Australia last year.

Day 4 - 2419 push ups. Why? 2419 men died from suicide last year in Australia.

Day 5 - 9 reps of Mt Coot-tha’s backside climb on a bike (2.2km and 202m elevation gain @ 9.2% gradient each climb). Why? 9 people die by suicide in Australia every day.

Day 6 - 795 burpees. Why? 795 females died from suicide last year in Australia.

Day 7 - 94 chin ups. Why? 94 children died from suicide last year in Australia.

Day 8 - 135km bike ride. Why? 135 people, on average, are impacted by each suicide.

Day 9 - 10km on a rowing machine. Why? A child as young as 10 took their own life in Australia last year and this child was in the custody of child protection.

Day 10 - 3085 sit ups. Why? There are 3085 calls for help to Lifeline every day in Australia. This is one every 28 seconds.

Day 11 - 970m of walking lunges. Why? 970,000 Australians have tried to take their own life at some point in their life.

Day 12 - 9000 reps of a skipping rope. Why? 9000 ambulances responded to male suicide attempts last year in Australia.

These numbers are both significant and tragic. 

I am hoping to raise awareness that there is support available, that no challenge is insurmountable and importantly, to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute.

Please follow along. I'll be posting regularly across various platforms with updates on the challenges and with details on how you can support the great cause.

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Day 12 (final challenge)

Thursday 12th Dec
9000 jumps with a skipping rope (thanks to Garmin for doing the counting on this one)! In recognition of the 9000 responses to male suicide attempts by ambulances last year.

Stoked to have completed the challenge and very appreciative to those who have supported. Hopefully it has resulted in improved awareness of some sobering statistics.

Day 11 - 970m of lunges in the rain

Thursday 12th Dec
Kind of enjoyed doing this one. Approx 90 laps back and forth doing lunges across the width of a doubles tennis court.

970 was chosen as 970,000 Australians have tried to take their own life at some point. Let that sink in.

Day 10 - many, many sit ups

Tuesday 10th Dec
3085 sit ups. A couple of hours spent counting and looking at a wall. Not much compared to the 3085 calls to Lifeline every single day.

Day 9 done - 10km row

Monday 9th Dec
Not the biggest day but the statistic for today is a sobering one. A child as young as 10 died by suicide while in the custody of child protection in Australia last year.

10km row in the books. Not really looking forward to 3000+ sit ups tomorrow.

Day 8 - 135km bike ride

Sunday 8th Dec
135km ride on a muggy Brisbane Saturday morning. 135 was chosen as it is the number of people, on average, impacted by each suicide.

Fairly tough given the conditions and the fact that I have not done much riding in the lead up to this challenge. Glad I had company and to get through it.

Day 7

Saturday 7th Dec
In my view, this day was likely to be the easiest - 94 chin ups. Sounded simple, but now starting to get quite tired and sore. Broke this up into digestible sets of 10 to complete. 

94 represents the number of children who died by suicide in Australia last year. Difficult (and not pleasant) to imagine what drives a child to resort to that but it is clearly a very real problem. 

It's also dawning on me that what might be easy on its own with a dedicated training program (e.g. 95 chin ups today or the 135km ride tomorrow) is not so easy when you're trying to be pretty good across the board and so have not specialised as much as you usually would with a singular goal.

Day 6 - half way

Saturday 7th Dec
795 burpees. Mentally any activity with under 1000 reps now feels very palatable. After 200 burpees and what felt like 200L of sweat, I decided to pause and go purchase a floor fan. Was worth it.

795 is significant because it is the number of Australian females who died by suicide last year.

Thanks also to all those who have donated in the last few days. Stoked to be at nearly $2700 for a worthy cause.

Sam's efforts

Saturday 7th Dec
In support of my current fundraising challenge, a close friend, Sam De Nys, has decided to cycle 60kms every day for 14 days. He is currently 8 days into his challenge. Thanks Sam (and good to get to ride together as we both ticked off the kms this morning)!

Day 5 - back on the bike

Friday 6th Dec
What a lovely time of year to be undertaking physical challenges in Brisbane (not really). On a very muggy morning, I set out to complete 9 laps of the Mt Coot-Tha 'back' climb on my bike. This likely could have been made easier by doing some training on the bike in the lead up!

I got through these laps and had some company which was great.

9 laps is significant as it is the number of Australians who take their own life each day. That’s another 2 people gone just while I was completing the ride. The ABC had an interesting article today that highlighted some research led by the Black Dog Institute. They found that 25 year olds today are more susceptible to stress than 25 year olds from 10 years ago, and that mental health issues are increasing in prevalence. This is despite exponentially more resources dedicated to mental health than at any time previously. Food for thought.

Day 4 done… just (hardest day so far)

Friday 6th Dec
2419 push ups. I tried to chip away at this total all day otherwise it did not feel achievable. I found this very challenging, thinking to myself that every 24(ish) push ups brought me another 1% closer. Unfortunately, this large number represents the number of Australian males who died by suicide last year.

Day 3 in the books (legs now sore)

Friday 6th Dec
3214 squats. Done in 2 blocks - one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Again, quite a challenge to keep chipping away at the reps as there is no distraction otherwise I would lose count!

3214 is the number of Australians who died by suicide in 2023.

Day 2 complete!

Friday 6th Dec
703 flights of stairs on the stair master machine completed in 1hr 45 mins. I found this more mental challenge than a physical one (although I was still sweating enough for everyone at the gym at the time).

703 was chosen as 703,000 people are estimated to die by suicide globally each year. A staggering number.

Day 1 complete

Thursday 5th Dec
65,000 steps taken! It only took non-stop movement from 6:15am to 9:15pm. Approximately 72kms of movement to reach this number.

However, more significant is the fact that 65,000 Australians try and take their own life each year. A staggering number. Supporting organisations like the Black Dog Institute is one way to bring this number down.

Thank you to my Sponsors

$131.88

Camden

Very proud of your awesome challenge and promoting awareness about mental health.

$54.12

Emmanual

$54.12

Karrie Harte

$105.50

Winter

What an amazing effort!

$105.50

Silvia &klaus Grob

Great job for a good cause

$131.88

Andrew Andersen

Well done, Chace.

$126.60

Ian Eldridge

support for my grandson

$105.50

Barb Cattell

Awesome effort Chace and for such a worthwhile cause!

$105.50

Christine Bh

Awesome effort Chace! Such appalling statistics - we all need to help in whatever way we can.

$31.65

Sophie Oferrall

$52.75

The Sutho’s

Good luck with the challenge!!

$520

Pip Spence

$52.75

Kelly Allgood

Cracking effort Chace and Sam. You've always been exceptional young men.

$52.75

Rob De Nys

The black dog is a bastard.. kick it to the kerb!

$26.38

Riley & Chels

Onya Snowy & Team 💪👊

$79.13

Mark Dunkley

Love your work mate!

$105.50

Steven De Nys

Champion Effort Boys

$105.50

Luke De Nys

Go on you mate !

$105.50

Adam Teale

Killing it mate. Definitely a great cause!

$52.75

D T

Such an important cause - great initiative.

$131.88

Anonymous

$52.75

Rob Clarke

$52.75

Lorena Clayton

Awesome work, Chace!!!!

$20

Clem Wong

Good luck Chace!

$105.50

Zoe & Mitch

$100

Steph

$50

Lee & Sherri Webster

Great work Chase, Power On !

$40

Landi Quinlan

Well done Chace! Such a good cause to support. Look forward to seeing you smash this challenge.

$21.10

Jack Rummins

$52.75

Melissa Reston

Awesome effort! Go well.

$250

Linda & Robert Morse

Huge undertaking Chace, may you go from strength to strength as you traverse this great land. I look forward to hearing about your journey at Christmas.

$126

Giritharan Family

We wish you all the best Chace as you take on this tough challenge for such an important cause.

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Roy & Kali Hammond

Good luck from you Gran's Outback Spirit friends.

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Phil And Sharon Whittaker

Good luck, from Nan’s Outback Spirit friends

$63

Brodie H

All the best mate. This is an awesome initiative for a great cause. Can’t wait to hear more about your journey.

$50

Meredith Lynch

Well done on taking on such a huge challenge that I know you will conquer, Chace!

$52.50

Anonymous

$450

Kathy Dunkley

Great job Chace!!!!

$52

Peta-marie Teale

Amazing Chase look forward to following your journey . Worthwhile cause x

$315

Sergey Gradyuk

Legend

$50

Anonymous