The True Strength Fundraiser

The True Strength Fundraiser is an online, social media-based initiative that was created to bridge the strength community with the wider community of New Zealand in efforts to raise awareness around depression & suicide during this holiday season. Our intent is to show that even for us powerlifters, bodybuilders and strongmen - true strength is not about our size, the weights we can lift or living up to an idea that society has placed on you, but true strength is learning to be yourself and coming to the realisation that asking for help is okay when you are not coping.

The Challenge: Video yourself performing as many reps as possible on the Bench Press within 2 minutes anytime during the 1st-10th December. Men weight: 100KG Female weight: 50KG.

The purpose of this initiative is twofold:

a) To raise awareness around the facts of depression & suicide in NZ and to encourage people to take action.

b) To donate towards the great cause of Lifeline.

Suicide and Depression in NZ

New Zealand has had the highest number of deaths by suicide last year with 606 people, equating to around one-person dead every 15 hours. I believe suicide IS preventable and depression is treatable, but we have to be willing as individuals, families and communities to have the right conversations about what is going on in our country. We can turn this tragic situation around, we can make a difference if we can raise awareness and resource the right people doing the right thing, I believe this is LIFELINE.

Where does the money go?

All the money will go directly to Lifeline.

Lifeline Aotearoa has been helping New Zealanders in crisis for over 50 years. Their free community helplines, 0800 LIFELINE, Suicide Crisis Helpline – 0508 TAUTOKO and Kidsline, 0800 KIDSLINE as well as their text support service HELP (4357) are answered by qualified counsellors and trained volunteers from centres in Auckland and Christchurch. They receive over 10,000 calls from people of all ages and ethnicities who are struggling with a wide range of issues including relationship and work problems, mental health, grief, abuse, bullying and loneliness and help an average of 6 people a day at high risk of suicide. Calls to the helplines are free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They receive no government funding for these helplines and rely on public donations.

How It Works:

Step 1: Decide on an amount of money you want to pledge per reps you want to achieve. Encourage friends and family to donate and sponsor you per rep also. For example, you personally pledge $2 per rep achieved and your friend sponsors you $2 a rep. If you bench 20 reps, you then donate $40 and your friend donates $40, a total of $80 towards this great cause. People can also donate a one-off sum of money.

Step 2: Video yourself performing as many reps as possible on the Bench Press within 2 minutes anytime during the 1st-10th December. Men weight: 100KG Female weight: 50KG.

Step 3: Once you are done you then post it on social media using our hashtag #TrueStrengthFundraiser and tag myself @BroganSamuelWilliams

Then send the funds to this Givealittle page! (all money will go directly to Lifeline).

Please consider participating in this fundraiser and making a difference during a season that is not always happy and jolly for many people.

Our Opening 10 Athletes:

1. Joseph Whittaker (NZ’s biggest ALL TIME raw total)

2. Jackson Hinch (NZ’s biggest GPC total)

3. BenandNicole Holmes (GPC NZ Overall National Champ 2018)

4. Brogan Samuel Williams (NZ’s first raw 400kg Squat)

5. Jerry Mamea (Mr Natural Olympia 2016)

6. Dhiren Dunraj (GPC NZ u75kg National Champ)

7. Bryn Ealey (NZ Open u95kg Champ)

8. Jamie Whitehead (GPC NZ u67.5kg National Champ)

9. Josh Whittle (NZ Open u110kg 3rd Place)

10. Bruce Dilla (AKL Strongman Series Log Lift Record holder)

Remember, this is open for everyone to participate in. These incredibly strong men above are just getting the ball rolling!

Kindest Regards,

Brogan Samuel Williams