Sydney Swans players Jaiden Magor, Lachie Rankin and Caleb Mitchell have tried their hand at stair climbing the grandstands of the Sydney Swans home ground ahead of the annual Stadium Stomp stair climbing challenge at the SCG on Sunday 20 August.
Once a year Stadium Stomp SCG flips the narrative and has the action happening in the grandstands with participants climbing up, down and around the stairs for a unique fitness challenge involving over 7700 stairs.
The event is an important fundraiser for the Black Dog Institute, a charity the Sydney Swans also support - evident through their partnership delivering free mental health training to high schools.
The strong connection between exercise and improved mental health is the reason Stadium Stomp has thrown its support behind the Black Dog Institute. As the event approaches the organisers and Black Dog Institute hope that more people will get involved, climb some stairs and raise funds for mental health.
Sydney Swans player Lachie Rankin said that Stadium Stomp was a fantastic initiative and having the event at the SCG, the home of the Swans made it even better.
"We do plenty of running on the ground but climbing the stairs of the SCG seems like a great challenge!,” Rankin said.
Second-year Swan Rankin, and first-year teammates Caleb Mitchell and Jaiden Magor have this year all jumped on board as Black Dog Institute ambassadors as the club’s partnership enters its fifth year.
“It’s been great to learn more about the work Black Dog Institute do and big events like this are really important. Hopefully lots of people get involved in the Stadium Stomp, have some fun and lots of money is raised.”
Black Dog’s Community Fundraising Manager, Phoebe Collins added, "Events like Stadium Stomp raise important funds for us and this allows the Black Dog Institute to continue its great work creating a mentally healthier world."
Fundraising will support research into early detection, prevention and treatment of mental health disorders, as well as funding vital support services for those most at risk.
“1 in 5 of us will experience symptoms of mental illness this year and 60% of these people wont seek help,” said Phoebe.
To date Stadium Stomp has raised over $50K for the Black Dog Institute.
It's estimated that over 1200 people will take part in Stadium Stomp SCG which also encompasses the stadium next door. Together, the SCG and Allianz Stadium will form Australia's largest stair climbing course.
Participants can choose between the full 7700 stairs or the shorter 4000 stairs as their goal. There's still time to register, so get stomping at www.stadiumstomp.com
