If you’re active on social media, you’ve probably noticed the #22PushUpChallenge hashtag on your feed. This trend is more than a fitness challenge, it’s an aim to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention.
The 22 Push-Up Challenge began in order to focus attention on the estimated 22 veterans that commit suicide every day, according to CBS News. That totals 7,400 veterans each year.
#22Kill hopes to reach a documented 22 million push-ups in order to raise awareness for veteran suicide prevention.
“When the statistics came out that 22 veterans a day were committing suicide it was almost unbelievable. We wanted to find out more where this number came from,” Retired Marine Don Nguyen, deputy director of 22Kill, the foundation behind the challenge, told the news organization.
According to CBS, the Department of Veterans Affairs adjusted the number of suicidal vets from 22 to 20, but that isn’t affecting 22Kill’s mission.
Nguyen said, “We are not going to be done until it is zero. And we are not going to change our name of a new study. What matters is that the number is going down and not up.”
Similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge, which raised $115 million for ALS in 2014, the #22PushUpChallenge is making waves across the celebrity universe. Here are ten Good Celebrities that are taking part in the challenge to raise awareness for the important cause.
“I didn’t know this,” he said in his Twitter video. “I didn’t know that was happening at that rate. That’s why these challenges are good because it raises awareness and shines a light on issues that need to be addressed.”
Thank you to all the men and women who serve this country #22PushupChallenge @Renner4Real @AnthonyMackie pic.twitter.com/BbA5j67uaM
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 15, 2016
Millie Bobby Brown of “Stranger Things”
Thanks @aaronpaul_8! I nominate @MatthewModine @noah_schnapp @maddieziegler @ChloeGMoretz #22PushupChallenge 💪🇺🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/nET6RONOW8
— Millie Bobby Brown (@milliebbrown) August 17, 2016
#22PushupChallenge. I now challenge @Laurencorinne8, @shredidiah and @milliebbrown pic.twitter.com/3ElfR1IWkr
— Aaron Paul (@aaronpaul_8) August 16, 2016
Houston Texans Star JJ Watt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Awesome of @JJWatt & @TheRock to support the cause behind the #22PushupChallenge.https://t.co/B02FQdqSZF
— AtTheBuzzer (@TheBuzzerOnFOX) August 16, 2016
A video posted by chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) on
#22pushupchallenge raise awareness for our veterans. If you are suffering call 1-800-273-8255 @Ludacris Your Up! pic.twitter.com/i7lOE9UYpn
— Scott Eastwood (@ScottEastwood) August 15, 2016
Photo Credit: Twitter