Anytime Fitness clubs raise $400,000 to help prevent suicide

Sarah Stowe

Anytime Fitness Australia has raised more than $400,000 for Suicide Prevention Australia through its Tread Together 24 Hour Treadmill Challenge.

Almost 300 Anytime Fitness clubs across the country hosted the event which brought together thousands of community members, local businesses, community services, politicians and celebrities to show their support for suicide prevention.

Funds raised will support Suicide Prevention Australia to introduce a new series of research scholarships designed to improve education and inform future development of suicide prevention strategies.

Anytime Fitness Australia CEO, Arthur McColl, said “For the second year in a row, we teamed up with Suicide Prevention Australia to help make a difference by raising funds and opening up community conversations around suicide and mental health. We’re pleased that the funds raised through this event will go towards valuable research aimed at saving lives.”

Over the two years of the  24 Hour Treadmill Challenge Anytime Fitness Australia has raised more than $800,000 for the charity.

Suicide Prevention Australia national research fund director Sue Murray said “This year’s event has been the biggest we’ve ever seen. Seeing hundreds of communities and thousands of Australians coming together to raise funds and suicide prevention awareness has been both inspiring and humbling.”