Group of five from Worcestershire highlighting mental health through 85kg log carrying challenge
The challenge will see them walk the Worcestershire Way with the log over the Easter bank holiday weekend
Last updated 26th Mar 2026
Final preparations are starting to get underway for a group of men from Worcestershire who are planning to carry a 85kg log a total of 31 miles next month.
Alex Gibbs, Jamie Willis, brothers Jack and Ben Thompson and Jordan Powell, who are all friends, will walk the Worcestershire Way route over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
The weight has been picked to symbolise the one of an average man, with the five doing the challenge to put a focus on men's mental health and tackle any stigmas around it.
Member of the Carrying the Weight Together group Alex Gibbs came up with the idea before Christmas as he felt it was something that was important to do.
"We decided to do it just to raise awareness towards mental health," he said.
"I've had a few struggles in the past and it's just not something that I sort of ever liked to voice to many people, but I always found walking and talking was the was my solution.
"We've had people stopping us on the walk and talking to us and that's what we're aiming to do is to start conversations."
Over the walk and the training, they've been fundraising for Coventry, Warwickshire & Worcestershire Mind, with over £1,500 raised so far.
On how the training is going and whether there is a strategy to it, one half of the brothers Jack Thompson said: "I don't think there really is any training that you can do for it as silly as that sounds, because you wouldn't normally train going uphills with an 85 kilo log sort of thing.
"We just need to raise as much awareness as possible and just get men to talk, which is what we're doing.
"After every walk on a Wednesday, we're going to sit in the pub for an hour and having a pint and to just chat about anything and everything."
The group are planning to start the walk on Friday 3 April at 7am from the Dog Lane car park in Bewdley and finish on Sunday 5 April in Great Malvern.