03-08-2025
Mersea Island gym goers lift 1,000 tonnes to raise over £10k for muscular dystrophy
MERSEA Island's 'Dumbbell Dozen' have raised more than £10,000 by lifting 1,000 tonnes in one month for muscular dystrophy research.
Colin Morgan, a regular at Flow gym on West Mersea, takes part in charity initiatives to help others.
He was approached by fellow gym member Lydia Ackerman and her husband Harry after the couple's son, ten-year-old Jacob, was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at just two years old.
Muscular dystrophy is a severe genetic condition which gradually causes the muscles to weaken.
There is currently no cure, but treatment can help with many of the symptoms.
Inspiration - Jacob lifted the first and last 30kg of the challenge (Image: Submitted)Inspired by Jacob, the Dumbbell Dozen, a team of 12 members from Flow gym aged between 22 and 80, decided to take on a fundraising challenge.
They aimed to lift 420 tonnes - the weight of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet – in July.
The team tracked their daily weightlifting performance using barbells, dumbbells and kettle bells across a range of exercises including squats, deadlifts, presses, curls and rows.
By day 10, it was clear the 420-tonne target would be easily met so the group added the weight of an Airbus A380 Super Jumbo - an extra 580 tonnes.
That took the total target to 1,000 tonnes, which was achieved in the final week of July.
On Thursday (July 31), Jacob returned to the gym to lift the final 30kg – having lifted the first 30kg at the start of the challenge.
Also present was Connal Kelleher, the London and Southeast regional director for the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, who has 'been hugely supportive' of the effort which he said was a "professional highlight of his time in fundraising'.
The Dumbbell Dozen were also supported by MP Sir Bernard Jenkin, the mayors of both Colchester and West Mersea, and the community team at Colchester United FC.
The amount raised has broken the £10,000 barrier and more is expected over the coming weeks.
This figure represents the cost of a full month of quality research into Muscular Dystrophy, which affects more than 100,000 people in the UK.
The Dumbbells are also waiting to hear whether they have made the shortlist for the 2025 National Fundraiser Awards after receiving a nomination.
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