A team of serving Armed Forces personnel completed a staggering 24-hour strength challenge — with every rep helping raise money for veterans and their families.
The 15-strong group successfully deadlifted a combined 1,000,000kg across September 4 and 5, turning an enormous physical undertaking into a fundraiser for Walking With The Wounded.
To put the scale of the challenge into perspective, reaching one million kilograms meant the team collectively had to shift 1,000 tonnes from the floor before the clock ran out.
And they did it.
The final stages took place alongside the Giants Live Strongman Open and World Deadlift Championships 2026 at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena, where the challenge was also live-streamed for supporters following their progress.
The team initially set themselves a fundraising target of £5,000.
They’ve since smashed that figure, raising more than £8,900 — a total approaching £11,000 once Gift Aid is included.
Money raised will support UK veterans and their families through Walking With The Wounded’s employment, mental health and wraparound care coordination programmes.
But for team member Luke Heppenstall, choosing the deadlift wasn’t simply about finding a suitably difficult physical challenge.
“We chose the deadlift challenge because it represents far more than physical strength,” her said per Walking With Wounded.
“Anyone who has pushed themselves to their limit knows that there comes a point where it stops being about strength and becomes a test of mindset, determination, and the will to keep going. Just as importantly, it’s about having the right people around you to encourage and support you when things get tough.
That’s why Walking With The Wounded felt like such a natural fit. Their work supporting veterans who face some of life’s toughest challenges reflects those same values of resilience, support, and perseverance. For 15 years they’ve helped ex-service personnel rebuild their lives, and we wanted our challenge to help support that mission in any way we can.”
Those words carried particular significance as the challenge entered its latter stages.
After hours of repeatedly picking up a loaded barbell, the task became as much about the collective effort as any individual’s strength.
Martin Lynn, Walking With The Wounded Events Manager, praised the group for turning that effort into support for former service personnel.
“A 1,000,000 kg deadlift challenge over 24 hours is an extraordinary undertaking. It shows the determination and teamwork of our serving personnel, and we are incredibly grateful to Luke and the team for using that effort to support Walking With The Wounded and the veterans we work alongside.”
One million kilograms, 24 hours and 15 people.
The numbers alone make it an extraordinary strength challenge.
But with thousands of pounds raised for veterans and their families along the way, what happened away from the barbell ultimately mattered even more.
You can donate to Walking With Wounded HERE.
Featured image credit: Walking With Wounded
