Plank Up The Volume This June For WOW

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, nine Australians die every day by suicide, more than double the road toll, and over 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt each year. But where is all the noise?

Waves of Wellness Foundation (WOW) is launching a plank challenge in June to turn up the volume about mental health and start conversations.

The plank challenge, ‘Plank Up The Volume’, will kick off on the first of June. For nine consecutive days, participants will plank for nine minutes to represent the nine lives that are taken by suicide daily. The nine minutes of planking can be broken down into shorter increments. 

The aim is to stop, hold some space, and reach your daily goal. In raising money for WOW you are helping to save lives through our life-changing surf therapy programs.

Strengthen your core while we get to the core of mental health

For CEO Joel Pilgrim, the plank challenge is about holding space for mental health and encouraging transparent conversations.

“Suicide is the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 49, and for each life lost to suicide, the impacts are felt by up to 135 people including family members, work colleagues, friends, and first responders at the time of death.”

“A plank challenge is fitting as planking is something we refer to when learning to surf. We use our core stability when planking to protect the spine, and this challenge is a reminder that we also need to work on our mental fitness ‘core’ to protect the mind.”

Plank Up the Volume is an accessible challenge for people of all ages in all locations, open to both individual and team fundraisers. 

Register here to get involved, either by yourself or by rallying up a team.

Plank you very much in advance!