Take The #657challenge To Support Those With Muscular Dystrophy
Get all your muscles moving to raise awareness for the importance of muscle health and raise money for The Muscle Help Foundation
Upbeat Active is proud to have partnered with The Muscle Help Foundation (MHF), the family charity working to provide life-changing experiences for children and young people with muscular dystrophy (MD).
To celebrate we’re launching the #657challenge to jointly promote the importance of keeping all your muscles healthy while also raising funds and awareness for the work and impact of the charity.
Watch the video to learn how to take the #657challenge and see below for more information about the fantastic work the MHF are doing.
Further reading: How Many Muscles Does It Take To…
The charity’s focus is on providing life-changing experiences for those whose muscles are broken.
“The charity’s focus is on providing life-changing experiences for those whose muscles are broken,” says MHF’s CEO and founder Michael McGrath, who was diagnosed with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy at the age of 18 and yet is the first disabled person to have reached both the North and South Poles.
“At the same time Upbeat Active want to encourage the nation to keep their muscles healthy so there’s a natural synergy between our two organisations.
Upbeat Active want to encourage the nation to keep their muscles healthy.
“We’re hopeful the #657challenge will bring attention to muscular dystrophy and fundraising with Upbeat Active will help the charity move closer to its goal of delivering 657 ‘Muscle Dreams’ [see below video] to children and young people — that’s one for every muscle in the human body,” says McGrath.
This video, which showcases MHF’s fantastic Muscle Dreams initiatives, was made by the charity to apply for lottery funding from the People’s Projects last year.
Muscular dystrophy and allied neuromuscular conditions are the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world today. It gradually causes the muscles to weaken, robbing sufferers of their mobility, independence and finally, for those with the most severe form, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), their lives.
In the UK alone, more than 70,000 people have muscular dystrophy or a related condition. There is no cure or treatment to reverse the deterioration. It’s a cruel and unforgiving disease.
Muscular dystrophy is the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world today.
DMD, the most common form, leaves the majority of those affected wheelchair-bound by 11 years old. Despite improved technology and drug interventions, few live beyond their late 20s to early 30s due to breathing complications and disease of the heart muscle, known as cardiomyopathy.
But together, through the power of the #657challenge, we can highlight their cause, help the MHF deliver Muscle Dreams to more children and young people and remind everybody around the world to look after every one of their 657 muscles.
ORIGINS OF THE #657CHALLENGE
The challenge itself is quick and easy, doesn’t require any specialist kit, and can be done anywhere, anytime. Simply drop from standing into a sitting position and back up, all the while balancing a full cup of liquid on your head. The less you spill, the more impressive.
It’s a full-body test of mobility, strength, balance and coordination that will get all your muscles moving — and hopefully provide a few giggles.
It’s also backed by science. The sit and stand part of the #657challenge is inspired by the sitting-rising test (SRT) that Brazilian physicians developed for a 2012 study. The simple test was used to measure musculoskeletal fitness (strength, flexibility, balance and coordination) as a predictor of life expectancy in 51 to 80-year-olds.
Those who scored the lowest, requiring the most assistance to sit and rise from the floor, were encouraged to make simple changes to their lifestyle, diet and exercise to improve their mobility and therefore their quality of life and longevity.
Our #657challenge version is more playful but still a good indicator of musculoskeletal fitness.
Further reading: Sex: The Ultimate Full Body Workout
HOW TO TAKE THE #657CHALLENGE
STEP 1: Fill a cup (to the brim if you’re confident).
STEP 2: From standing, hold the glass in place on your head with both hands (take one hand off if you have to but aim to keep both on the glass).
STEP 3: Bend your legs to lower yourself to the ground until you’re sitting fully cross-legged on the floor (bum must be in contact with the ground).
STEP 4: From sitting, drive back up off the floor without removing the glass from your head (this is where you might get a little water spillage).
STEP 5: Once you’re back standing, assess the spillage.
If you haven’t lost a drop that’s a good sign you’ve got exemplary mobility and muscle strength. If you now have a wet head or need to remove the glass and use a hand to help you get off the floor that’s fine too. Practice makes perfect and it’s a good daily drill to keep all your muscles moving.
Once you’re done grab a bottle of Upbeat Active, containing 20g of quality whey protein to help keep your muscles healthy and happy.
Further reading: Five Easy Steps To Healthy Muscles
NOW NOMINATE AND DONATE
Now you know how to do it, here’s how to challenge your friends, show your support for those with muscular dystrophy and raise awareness for the importance of our muscles in everyday life.
STEP 1: Upload the clip of your #657challenge attempt to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram (or all three).
STEP 2: In the accompanying text tag your three nominations, include the hashtag #657challenge and mention how people can donate to MHF via text message.
For example on Instagram and Facebook:
I nominate @xxx, @xxx and @xxx to take the #657challenge to raise awareness for The Muscle Help Foundation and support those with muscular dystrophy. You can donate to the charity by texting MUSC13 £5 to 70070. http://bit.ly/2j0BFeN
And here’s a shorter example for Twitter:
I nominate @xxxxxxxxx @xxxxxxxxxxx & @xxxxxxxxxxxxxx to take The #657Challenge. Text MUSC13 £5 to 70070 to donate.
STEP 3: Text “MUSC13 £5” to 70070 to donate to The Muscle Help Foundation and support their efforts to deliver 657 Muscle Dreams to children and young people with MD.
Remember it’s not about succeeding or failing with the challenge, just about giving it a go. Need further inspiration and motivation? Search #657challenge to see how fellow muscle warriors are getting on with it.
Remember, Every Muscle Matters. Join our community and tag your posts with #fuel657
