World's hardest lockdown workout: The heartwarming reason a regular Aussie bloke is doing the same number of push ups as the NSW Covid cases announced every day

A brave man has undertaken what could be the world's most difficult workout by doing the same number of push ups as the NSW Covid cases announced each day - and it's all for a good cause. 

Regan Campbell started the challenge on July 27 to raise $1,000 for the Black Dog Institute while in Sydney's lockdown and has so far completed a grand total of 7,133 push ups. 

Mr Campbell is so set on meeting his targets for the mental health charity because his mother committed suicide and he attempted to in September 2017.  

'Because of this mental health awareness has been something I'm a huge advocate for, and in a time where we are all self-isolating, mental health awareness should be at the front of everyone's mind,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Regan Campbell (pictured with fiancé Bronte) is hoping to raise $1000 for the Black Dog Institution by challenging himself to do the same number of push ups as daily Covid cases

Mr Campbell explained that he is proud his message is being conveyed to the public, even though it has been difficult to complete the push ups because the Covid cases have sharply increased. On Thursday NSW recorded 681 cases.

'I guess in terms of experience, I literally went from doing zero push ups before this and being overweight to straight away doing 172 push ups which absolutely killed me,' he said.

'The first few days were the hardest, as I was adjusting to going from zero exercise to what I felt like was extreme exercise.

Regan Campbell is doing the same number of push ups as there are daily Covid cases in NSW to raise money for charity

'I actually could barely do knee push ups for days two and three, that's how sore I was after the first day.'

Despite the difficulty of his initial starting place Mr Campbell said he is in a good mental health place because of the challenge.   

'I feel like the physical exercise and the cause behind it has actually made me happier than pre-lockdown which I know is extremely odd to say,' he said. 

Mr Campbell won't stop until cases in NSW reach zero again. 

This is Regan's second time doing a challenge to raise money for the organisation. Last year, he undertook another push up challenge, doing a 20 day, 25 push up fundraiser

He completed a similar challenge in 2020, doing a 20 day, 25 push up challenge, also raising money for the Black Dog Institute.  

The blurb on his donation site this year reads: 'Mental illness affects one in five Australians every year, with the most common being depression and anxiety. Mental illness doesn't discriminate. It affects people from all walks of life - individuals, families, workplaces and communities.'

To donate and support Mr Campbell in his challenge, visit his donation site here.

The Black Dog Institute is an organisation dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing mental illness