More Than a Game: My 50kg World Coal Carry Challenge

This Easter Monday, I am taking on a challenge that is as much about community as it is about physical endurance: the World Coal Carrying Championships in Gawthorpe. Heaving a 50kg sack of coal over 1,012 yards and up the brutal 1-in-6 gradient of Maypole Hill is a daunting physical test, but I am driven by a cause that means everything to those of us involved in the game.

I am proud to be representing Shaw Cross Sharks as part of a unique "Rivals United" team. We have joined forces with players and supporters from Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Moor, and Dewsbury Celtic. While we usually spend our time competing fiercely on the pitch, we’re putting those local rivalries to one side to stand shoulder-to-shoulder—proving that the Rugby League community is one family when it matters most. It is a powerful reminder that while we may wear different colours, we are all part of one Rugby League family.

The motivation for my run is deeply rooted in our club's history. At Shaw Cross, we all know the story of Ryan Glynn, who suffered a life-changing spinal injury while playing for the Sharks in 2013. Seeing the way the Rugby League Benevolent Fund stepped in to provide Ryan with lifelong support including home adaptations, specialized wheelchairs, and the rehabilitation needed to regain independence was incredibly moving. They ensure that when a player faces their darkest day, they don't have to do it alone.

As a current player, I know how easily a single moment on the pitch can change everything. I feel a deep responsibility to ensure the safety net that caught Ryan is there for the next person that the Benevolent Fund provides. The money I raise will go directly towards the vital rehabilitation and support services that allow the charity to transform the lives of injured players and their families.

Please give what you can to support my coal carry. Your donation helps ensure that the promise we make to every player—that we look after our own—is kept for years to come. No matter the badge on the shirt, we are one team when it comes to supporting our injured brothers and sisters. Every pound you donate isn’t just a contribution—it’s a promise that in this sport, no one fights alone.