Serving Armed Forces team smash 1,000,000 kg deadlift challenge at Birmingham arena

A 15-strong team of serving Armed Forces men and women have succeeded in deadlifting a combined 1,000,000 kg over 24 hours on 4 and 5 September, raising funds for veterans and their families.

The challenge was live-streamed during the Giants Live Strongman Open and World Deadlift Championships 2026 at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham, giving supporters a chance to follow the team as they completed the final stages of the attempt.

The team aimed to raise £5,000 to support UK veterans and their families through Walking With The Wounded’s employment, mental health and wraparound care coordination programmes. To date, they have raised over £8,840 - approaching almost £11,000 thanks to Gift Aid.

Speaking about the challenge, team member, Luke Heppenstall, said, “We chose the deadlift challenge because it represents far more than physical strength. 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.”

Martin Lynn, WWTW Events Manager, added: “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.”