Six Tauranga Boys’ College students are continuing the “legacy” of former students by taking on a 40-hour physical activity challenge to raise awareness for mental health.

The Fortress 40 challenge is back for its second year after six prefects and head students initiated it last year and raised about $5000 for Movember – a charity for men’s mental health.

Now, the current prefects and head students want to make it a “tradition” as they take on the challenge on September 20.

The challenge involves a series of extreme physical activities including gym sessions, running, cycling, swimming, Waka Ama, and cold-tolerance training for 39 hours. Participants will sleep for one hour.

All money raised will go to Movember.

‘A really good cause’

Head prefect Michael van Lieshout told the Bay of Plenty Times he saw what the students achieved last year and how it impacted people.

“[We] just thought that it’s such a great event for a really good cause ... And we’re just quite keen to continue their legacy and make it a tradition.

“It’s all about helping people which we’re really keen on doing.”

Van Lieshout said in his view, there was a stigma for men talking about mental health, especially at an all-boys school.

Getting people to talk about mental health was “a really important cause”, he said.

Van Lieshout said the programme was similar to last year’s including “surf torture” sessions.

“Basically, [we] link arms and sit down in the surf and get smashed by the waves ... We’ve thrown in a couple of bike rides around Daisy Hardwick.”

He said the group had been doing team training twice a week for the past five or six weeks.

Van Lieshout said the students who did the challenge last year were coming to support them. The group will have someone qualified in first aid with them at all times.

A mental and physical challenge

Student Harley Gardiner said he believed there was a stigma about men and young boys not talking about mental health.

“As we are role models at the school, hopefully those younger boys will look up to us and be able to speak up about their own mental health.”

Gardiner said he was most looking forward to challenging himself physically and mentally.

The football player said he was “quite fit” and thought the runs would be the easiest.

“But the hardest would definitely be the swim – I haven’t hopped in a pool in a very long time and I feel like swimming fitness is probably a bit different to running fitness.”

Gardiner said the group had been having sausage sizzles as fundraising events for Movember.

Deputy head prefects Seb Health and Jack Muir and students Gabe Roberts and Jake Stott are also participating.

Tauranga Boys' College principal Andrew Turner. Photo / Mead Norton.

Principal Andrew Turner said last year’s first-ever event was a “huge success” not only raising more than $5000 for men’s mental health but also inspiring this year’s group of prefects to build on this legacy.

Turner said it would become an annual event.

“Our boys have captured the vision inspired by last year’s head boy Kane McBrydie. They are committed to raising awareness for men’s mental health and will continue to build on this commitment.

“The goal of education is to grow and develop committed citizens who will give back and add value to society. We are incredibly proud of the efforts of these young men who are taking on this challenge and commitment to give back to our wider community.”

People can donate to the students’ fundraiser on the Movember website.

Where to get help

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

For counselling and support

Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP)

Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO)

Need to talk? Call or text 1737

Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202

For children and young people

Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234

What’s Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)

The Lowdown: Text 5626 or webchat

For help with specific issues

Alcohol and Drug Helpline: Call 0800 787 797

Anxiety Helpline: Call 0800 269 4389 (0800 ANXIETY)

OutLine: Call 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) (6pm-9pm)

Safe to talk (sexual harm): Call 0800 044 334 or text 4334

All services are free and available 24/7 unless otherwise specified.

For more information and support, talk to your local doctor, hauora, community mental health team or counselling service.

-Bay of Plenty Times.