Febfast launches fitness challenge

Annual health initiative febfast is back on this month, and organisers have introduced a new fitness-based challenge to give people another way to raise money for a good cause.

Youth Support and Advocacy Service (YSAS) holds febfast each February as its only fundraiser for the year, with proceeds going towards assisting severely disadvantaged young people in Victoria and South Australia to recover from serious drug, alcohol and mental health problems.

Under febfast, people select a vice of their choice – alcohol, sugar, coffee or something else – to give up for the 28 days of February.

Individuals can sign up and ask friends and family to sponsor their journey to take on healthier habits for a month, and businesses can sign up their teams to take the challenge together.

In 2023, YSAS has introduced febfit, which challenges people to move for at least 25 minutes a day every day in February.

This is in accordance with Department of Health and Aged Care guidelines, which recommend adults aged between 18-64 should be active on most (preferably all) days, to a weekly total of: 2.5-5 hours of moderate activity or 1.25-2.5 hours of vigorous activity or an equivalent combination of both.

YSAS has several tiers of achievements and prizes to unlock as people raise more funds, ranging from Semi-Pro at $106, which can help a young person get access to specialised drug and alcohol education and support; to the Hall of Fame at $1,000 or more, which can provide intensive one-on-one support for a young person who has come out of a youth prison to connect back to their community, a specialist youth worker, education and employment opportunities and housing.

“For the past 18 years, 60,000 Australians have hit pause on a vice of their choice: alcohol, sugar, coffee or something else to raise vital funds for young people experiencing serious disadvantage,” YSAS chief executive officer Andrew Bruun said.

“But, this year you don’t have to give anything up to do good and feel good. We’re introducing febfit: the brand-new fitness challenge to get your body moving for 25 minutes a day.

“It’s incredibly heartening to see so many people supporting febfast and febfit with almost 5,000 sign ups nationwide. Not only because it has immense personal health and wellness benefits, but also because every dollar funds critical youth outreach and drug and alcohol treatment programs at the Youth Support and Advocacy Service.

“With the right mix of tools, care and opportunity every young person can live a healthy and fulfilling life free from abuse and neglect. Sometimes I’ve seen young people up against serious odds come through in a way that I’m really inspired by.

“I encourage every Australian to step up for our young people and join our community of febfasters and inaugural febfit participants and surprise yourself, sign up and get fasting or moving for a good cause.”

For more information on febfast and febfit and to sign up to either (or both), head to febfast.org.au