Changing culture, breaking barriers, and moving for young minds health: the 24 Hour Movement Challenge happening this Friday

Posted on 19 March, 2025

This Friday, hundreds of Canberrans are stepping up and moving non-stop for 24 hours to raise critical funds and awareness for young people’s mental health.

Between 6 am Friday 21 March to 6 am Saturday 22 March, every move matters and every moment counts as over 270 corporate and individual community participants from across Canberra (and for the first time, interstate), will take part in the 2025 24-Hour Movement Challenge.

Hosted by 2600 CrossFit, Kingston and Kulture Break, the event will see participants push themselves through guided workouts to help break the cycle of youth mental health struggles.

“Every 24 hours, a young person loses hope, feels isolated, is bullied, or worse,” says Founder and CEO of Kulture Break Francis Owusu.

This along with the young souls around him is what inspired Francis Owusu to create the 24-Hour Challenge in 2022.

“The biggest inspiration for me is the young people that we work with on a day-to-day basis, particularly over the last 22 years. There have been many young people that I’ve seen benefit from the wellbeing programs delivered through dance,” he says.

But it was a specific young man who used to come to Kulture Break who took his own life and was the true source of inspiration, as Francis wanted to see how he could help keep his legacy alive, whilst making a difference.

Running for its third year, the 24-Hour Movement Challenge is about more than just fitness; it’s a movement to show young people that the community stands with them. Through different guided workshops over the 24-hour period, participants will have the chance to engage in dance, strength sessions, walking challenges, and guided workouts.

But don’t worry, you don’t have to be physically fit or work out for 24-hours straight to partake in the challenge.

“Participate, choose your level and come move,” says Francis.

”If you can’t hold a conversation, you’re working too hard… it is a very networking, social event as well, where people of all backgrounds, all abilities, regards of fitness levels, can participate.”

With the aim of raising $140,000 for the Kulture Breaks mental health and wellbeing program, known as “Dance Nation”,  the funds raised will help the program’s mission of empowering more than 500 young people from 20 schools, supporting them in assisting students with early intervention while also providing tools to combat mental health.

Beyond the 24-Hour Movement Challenge, you can get involved and help out this incredible organisation by assisting with ‘Dance Nation’s Spectacular’, which is being held on 4 July.

“People can volunteer a day, and come up and come and help, and be around the kids as well,” says Francis.

So why not sign up for the challenge, donate and spread awareness to show that stand with the youth that need someone by their side?

“We want to change culture and break barriers,” says Francis.

“I think there’s a number of things that would spark more conversations around mental health…It also will hopefully ignite their desire to move more, because research clearly shows how moving more impacts your mood, low stress, improves your cardiovascular system,”

“That and also encouraging people to continue to give, because that also builds resilience and improves your mental health.”

Find out more or simply donate here: 24hrmovement.au

If you or someone you know needs support, contact any of the below support helplines.

• Lifeline:  13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14
• Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• headspace:  1800 650 890
• ReachOut:  www.au.reachout.com
• 13YARN: 13 92 76

Images supplied.