WHILE most of us were probably watching the footy on Friday night, watching your favourite show, enjoying an end of week drink or just tucked up in bed, Kangaroo Valley cop Todd Cremer was out working hard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
No, he wasn't pounding the pavement or out on the beat, but the Senior Constable was pushing himself to the limit at Kangaroo Valley Showground.
Todd spent 10 hours Friday night and Saturday morning on World Suicide Prevention Day, raising funds to go towards trying to stop youth suicide.
For 10 hours he burpeed, yep you know that dreaded exercise that starts with a push up followed by a leap into the year, around the Valley Showground, raising funds for the ALIVE Project, a community-driven organisation dedicated to ending suicide in young people in Australia.
In a sensational effort the 37-year-old, self-confessed 'fitness nut' has raised more than $30,000.
And along the way performed 5102 burpees
Speaking on Monday he said his body felt "fine" just a "bit tight".
"It was worse Sunday, anything I dropped on the ground was staying there," he said.
Read more:
"I was honestly surprised I managed as many burpees as I did and to raise more than $30,000 was incredible.
What was going through my mind for the 10 hours was the lifetime of pain someone who loses a child must feel. This small amount of hurt I was feeling was nothing. If we can save one life, all this pain I have gone through will be worth it.
- Todd Cremer
"And I'm extremely grateful of everyone's support. It's just been fantastic."
And while he would have been happy to just raise $1000, he said topping $30,000 had "blown him away".
"When I set up my fundraising limit on the website I stated $100,000, I had to set something," he said.
"Honestly, I would have been happy with $1000....when I got $100 I thought great we are away.
"Then we climbed to $1000, then onto $4000."
By the time he started his marathon efforts Friday evening, $9500 had been pledged.
"Someone came down during the evening and said I had reached $18,000 and I was ecstatic," he said.
"That had far exceeded anything I honestly had dreamed of.
"I just kept thinking how many young people's lives that sort of money could change and that pushed me on to keep going.
"ALIVE is a great organisation that runs preventative programs all aimed at ending youth suicide."
At the end of his efforts that fundraising had ballooned to more than $30,000.
"It's just amazing," he said.
Read more:
"That money is the biggest ever single individual donation the ALIVE Project has received and they are just over the moon and so appreciative.
"This money will allow an extra 1000 kids to partake in the wonderful programs this organisations runs to try and combat youth suicide for a whole year.
This money will allow an extra 1000 kids to partake in the wonderful programs this the ALIVE Project runs to try and combat youth suicide for a whole year.
- Todd Cremer
"That is just fantastic.
"If we can save one life, all this pain I have gone through will be worth it.
"The funding will allow ALIVE to continue the wonderful work they do."
Although grateful, he unintentionally even managed to also arrange his efforts around a couple of days off work to let his body recover.
And believe it or not Todd is already planning to undertake a similar event again next year.
"I'm looking at doing the same again next year and maybe even get more people involved and raise even more money," he said.
"If one bloke can raise $30,000 how much could we raise if we have a few other people taking up the cause as well, in perhaps a giant fundraising event. How much could we raise if more people come on board?
"I'd even like to see it possibly become an annual event.
"And maybe I won't have to do as much as I did - after my 10-hour effort I think I have some street cred. People know I'm fair dinkum and hopefully will support the effort."
I don't know if they [the community] set up a roster system or set alarms or whatever, but there seemed to be someone always dropping in through the 10 hours and I really appreciate that.
- Todd Cremer
Despite COVID restrictions he said he was heartened by the many locals, who at various times during the night, "popped in to make sure he was okay".
"I don't know if they set up a roster system or set alarms or whatever, but there seemed to be someone always dropping in through the 10 hours and I really appreciate that," he said.
"I'm not sure if they were actually checking in on me to see if I was doing what I said I would do," he laughed.
"We had one bloke there updating our social networks and my wife Shannon was amazing, she was there the whole night making sure I was okay.
"But the greater support of the community was fantastic and I really appreciate that. It was just fantastic."
And what got him through the night?
"What was going through my mind for the 10 hours was the lifetime of pain someone who loses a child must feel," he said.
Read more:
"This small amount of hurt I was feeling was nothing.
"As much as at times I was burning and hurting I was also smiling because I know an extra 1100 kids, with this fundraising and their ongoing funding will now be able to undertake the ALIVE program.
"This is not about me but the brilliant work and programs ALIVE run."
You can still support Todd's efforts - his fundraising page, Burpee for a Cause, can be found through mycause (https://www.mycause.com.au/) or https://www.mycause.com.au/page/254246/swat-fit-burpees-for-a-cause
And Todd is not finished there, he is also one of 13 Kangaroo Valley men who are also taking part in a fundraising event for Movember.
The group of hardy Valley men are set to grow mos and get their kit off for a fundraising calendar and at the same time raise awareness of the prevention of suicide within their community.
"In short, there are a group of local blokes who are bravely going to shed their clothing covered only in glorious mos of their choosing to assist in raising funds," he said.
A calendar launch and fundraising evening is scheduled for The Friendly Inn, Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley for November 5, COVID allowing.
Each calendar will cost around $25 and there will be other fundraising events and auctions on the night.