Mahi for mental health

Blenheim’s F45 gym members and supporters joined fellow studios across New Zealand for their yearly Mahi for Mental Health fundraising campaign.

This year, each gym was tasked with covering 548 km on treadmills or rowing machines, one for each victim of suicide in New Zealand last year.

Supporters also completed 3500 burpees – one for every Kiwi that the chosen charity I AM HOPE Foundation estimates attempted suicide last year – and Marlburians dug deep to finish with smoothies and smiles on Saturday morning.

Blenheim studio manager Veejay Raizada says he can’t think of a more worthwhile cause.

“We see these tragedies far too often, and instead of sweeping them under the rug we need to come together and find community orientated solutions, which I AM HOPE is one of many great organisations that are just overwhelmed."

F45’s Mahi for Mental Health started in 2021 out of the Wellington East gym, after organiser Liana Costello had members of her gym impacted by suicide.

Together, they came up with the idea of hurting physically, in support for those hurting mentally.

Veejay says he completely backs Liana’s project, having found his career in fitness after using fitness to help his own mental health.

“I was 125kg at 16 and wasn’t loving much of my life outside of loving the food I was eating, but after finding a passion for getting fit, challenging myself and helping others to do the same I just found confidence I’d never had before, so I’ve always been an advocate for supporting initiatives like this.

“Especially with Marlborough having one of the highest suicide rates per capita, it’s so important to support where we can, not just with this event but on a daily basis”.

Support the F45 Mahi for Mental Health efforts at https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/hurting-for-those-who-hurt, with all money going to I AM HOPE Foundation which run courses in schools and communities across the country, and support for young New Zealanders that have mental health issues.