Tiff Liu

About My Challenge

Some of you know this about me, and some of you don’t - but I grew up in a home where mental illness was always present, even when no one talked about it. My childhood didn’t look like the ones I used to envy. While other kids had sleepovers, I sat in hospital waiting rooms. I stayed home instead of going out because I was afraid of what I might come back to. I learned how to check someone’s breathing in the dark, counted prescription pills, and quietly poured out alcohol - terrified that one day I would wake up and that parent wouldn’t be there.

I didn’t know there were places I could turn to. I didn’t know how to ask for help. And, maybe most of all, I didn’t know if anyone would care - or if they would judge me and my family. And because of that, fear and shame grew like a disease inside me for years.

We’ve come so far in talking about mental health - in breaking open the silence that once made people like me feel alone. It’s still not perfect - but research, open conversations, supportive organizations, and challenges like this one have helped lift so much of the stigma. They’ve even made it possible for me to speak openly about what I went through - something I never imagined I'd be able to do. If you know me well, you know I am not someone who easily talks about myself. Even now, I’ve rewritten this more times than I can count, softening words and downplaying moments because I’m hesitant to let this part of me be seen. But this is my truth. And if sharing even a small piece of it has the slightest chance of saving a life or making someone feel less alone, then it’s worth doing - every single time, no matter how hard it is. 

This year, starting February 5th, my team and I are pushing ourselves - 2,000 push-ups in 23 days. We’re doing it for those who are still fighting. For those who don’t have the words yet. For the child I once was. And for my friend Szymon - someone I miss immensely and think about every day.

If you choose to support us, I hope you know what it means. It’s not just a number or a challenge - it’s a promise that no one has to carry their story in silence.

Thank you so much for your time and support. 

All proceeds help the Canadian Mental Health Association to support mental illness recovery and foster positive mental health in Canada.