Push-up 22 challenge pumping

An ex-british solider is encouraging St John cadets in Feilding to take part in a push-up challenge to highlight post-traumatic stress disorder.

Darren Smith, a senior Palmerston North first aid tutor and Feilding St John Youth leader, picked up the 22 push-ups for 22 days challenge after he was nominated by a friend.

The challenge began in the United States with the number 22 highlighting the 22 ex-servicemen said to commit suicide daily in the country.

Smith said after he was nominated, he in turn nominated his daughter.

She is a St John cadet, and the challenge spread around the group.

‘‘The majority of the cadets have really taken this on board.’’

Smith said seeing the cadets get so involved in the challenge was humbling.

‘‘Our youth programme has some really close links with our own military.

‘‘There’s a few who are already planning on careers with the New Zealand Defence Force.

‘‘There are a few who do want to become medics in the military.

‘‘They have all acknowledged the combat stress and PTSD.’’

Smith said after some deployments he had struggled to adapt back to reality and he was glad to see PTSD and other conditions discussed more openly.

‘‘We acknowledge it, we don’t hide it like we used to do.’’

He said he felt some of that was due to social media, which had helped in spreading awareness.

Doing the challenge was good to create awareness, but also to promote physical fitness.

‘‘I’ve watched some of those kids start from push-ups on their knees, starting slow, and now those kids achieve those pushups.’’

Out of his cadet group, 16 had taken part in the challenge.