Shouldering the Weight: My 50kg World Coal Carrying Challenge for the Rugby League Family

This Easter Monday, I’ll be taking on one of West Yorkshire’s most gruelling and historic traditions: the World Coal Carrying Championships in Gawthorpe. Racing 1,012 yards through the streets of Dewsbury and up the final climb with a 50kg sack of coal on my shoulders is a daunting physical challenge, but the motivation behind every step is far greater than the weight I will be carrying.

I’m not undertaking this challenge alone. I am proud to be part of a team where four of our local clubs have put their long-standing rivalries to one side to come together for this vital cause. It is a powerful testament to the strength of our community to see Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Moor, Shaw Cross Sharks and Dewsbury Celtic standing shoulder to shoulder, proving that while we may be rivals on the pitch, we are one family when it comes to supporting our own.

I am raising essential funds for the Rugby League Benevolent Fund, a charity that provides lifelong support to players who have suffered life-changing injuries. As a former player myself, I feel a deep sense of gratitude that I was able to finish my career without ever needing such assistance. However, I know all too well how quickly circumstances can change on the pitch and how vital a safety net is for those who are less fortunate.

This cause is particularly close to my heart following the tragic loss of our young Batley Bulldogs teammate, Archie Bruce, while on club duty in 2019—a moment that shook our entire community. In the difficult days that followed, the Benevolent Fund acted as a vital lifeline, providing immediate emotional and practical support to Archie’s family, his teammates, and everyone at the club. I saw first-hand the difference the charity makes during a community's darkest hours.

By donating to this page, you are helping to ensure that the Rugby League family can continue to look after our own when they need it most. Every penny raised will go directly towards providing specialist equipment, rehabilitation, and long-term care for those who have given so much to the sport we love.

Please give what you can to support our team as we take on the coal run. Your donation ensures that no member of our Rugby League family ever has to face a life-changing injury alone.