Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

Details 
Event: Guinness World Record Attempt for Most Pull Ups Completed in 24 Hours

Event Location: Maximus Fitness, 3079 30th St SW, Grandville, MI 49418

Event Time: November 21 10:00AM – November 22 10:00AM

*The event is open to the public and you can come and go as you please. Patty Matters food truck will be selling their gourmet burgers and fries at lunch time from 12:00PM – 2:00PM.

Background
When the lockdown was initiated, I knew my summer plans had changed. All of the competition-based events that I signed up for were cancelled and I started to wonder what I was going to do. Now that my home is my new gym, I shot over to the store and purchased a pull up bar in the picked over exercise equipment section. As my training progressed 100 pull ups turned into 500, and 500 turned into 1000, and so on.

I’m fortunate to live with someone who is an expert in the mental health field. Mental health problems have been increasing every year since 2011 but it was brought to my attention that these risks have increased even more since COVID has arrived. I decided to marry the two worlds of physical fitness and mental health and revise my summer plans.

That’s how I came to the conclusion that I wanted to attempt the Guinness World Record for most pull ups completed in 24 hours and raise funds for an amazing local organization that makes a difference in our community. With health risks on the rise, let's allow these incredible professionals to help the ones who need it most.

The current record stands at 7600 pull ups. My goal is to raise a $1 for every pull up I intend to complete. Any contribution is greatly appreciated and will help make an impact!

Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan

Our Vision:
The Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan is the best source for proactive mental health and suicide prevention education to improve and save lives.

Our Mission:

Hello Friends,


My Name is Jack Bennett, and for those who know me know I like to ride my bike. Well to me riding a bike means a little more than riding a bike. The last three years I have really struggled with Depression. Consumed with what media fills our heads on the ideal perception of ones body has really taken a toll on me. But it is not just me, Mental Health disorders affect 1 in 5 people, along with being the 2nd leading cause of death in people ages 15-24. Media is the number 1 reason to this issue, which is why I am starting a fundraiser called Smash Your T.V. Ride a Bike.


I fought depression all through high school on and off. After high school I got so caught up on my body perception that I became bulimic, it got to the point where I was admitted to a hospital overnight. I tried seeing a therapist, I “followed” their steps, but that just didn’t do it for me. It wasn’t until I realized being on a bike is what brings me joy, and was my number one solution to defeat bulimia and depression. I became a bike messenger in between classes, hopping on my bike and riding whenever I could. I am now living on Mackinac Island, a place free of cars and my only transportation, a bike.


So what is next? I am now leaving November 3rd for Auckland, New Zealand, where I will set out on my bike to ride across all of North and South New Zealand for a month and a half, packing everything on my bike, from a tent to 2 changes of clothes.


So now it is my turn to try and give back! I would like to try and raise $10,000 for the Be Nice Foundation, an amazing Foundation where I learned first hand along with 12,000 other students in Kent county, Michigan about the importance of mental health, bullying, depression, along with coping skills through there Live, Laugh, Love Program.


Thank you ahead of time! 100 percent of donations will go to the Be Nice Foundation and continuing to fight the battle with Mental Health.


Love, Jack

The Student Occupational Therapy Association (SOTA) of Western Michigan University- Grand Rapids is raising money to benefit the Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan. The Mental Health Foundation will use these funds to provide community education and help stomp the stigma associated with mental illness.

We are a student based, non-profit organization that serves to promote professional development through leadership opportunities, community education, networking, social activities, volunteer activities and fundraising. We are proud to serve our community, our profession and our University.

We have partnered with the Mental Health Foundation (downtown GR location) for the last six years to promote awareness of mental illness, decrease stigma, and eliminate bullying. In the past, we have put on a 5k to raise proceeds for the Mental Health Foundation`s Live, Laugh, Love and "be nice." programs. This year we have decided to mix it up and create a Zumbathon event on October 22, 2016, to encourage more participants and increase awareness.  The event will be held at the Mary Free Bed YMCA from 2-4pm. If you would like to attend, please contact Caitlin Muir at [email redacted]. If you are not able to attend this event, please consider donating here.