10-year-old Jacob inspires charity 'Jumbo Jet Lift' challenge

The team have set themselves the challenge in support of Jacob, who lives with limb girdle muscular dystrophy, and all money raised is going to Muscular Dystrophy UK, the leading charity for the 110,000 people in the UK living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions. The Dumbbell Dozen have already raised over £6,500.

To mark the first two weeks of the challenge, on Friday 11 July, the MP for Harwich and North Essex, Sir Bernard Jenkin visited FLOW to see the lifting in action. Also attending was the CEO of Muscular Dystrophy UK, Andy Fletcher; the Mayoress of Colchester, Lyn Barton; and the Mayor of West Mersea, Teresa Webster.

Explaining how the challenge came about, Colin Morgan said: “Over the past couple of years, I’ve taken on several charity challenges, including a 5,000 squat challenge last November. When I was coming towards the end of that, a fellow gym member, Lydia, approached me and asked if I’d ever done anything similar in aid of Muscular Dystrophy UK. She went on to tell me about her 10-year-old son Jacob, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of two. His condition causes his muscles to weaken over time and currently there’s no cure.

“Lydia and her husband Harry are supportive of many causes on Mersea Island, so I was more than happy to do something for their son. By fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy UK, we can help fund new research and support people like Jacob living with muscle wasting conditions.”

Colin’s initial plan for the fundraising challenge was to lift the equivalent weight of a London double decker bus (approximately 15 tonnes) over one month. “But this didn’t feel like much of a challenge,” said Colin. “So, I decided to aim bigger. In my career, I worked alongside British Airways for a couple of years and have always remembered the fully laden take-off weight of a Boeing 747-400 jumbo jet is 420 tonnes. This seemed like a much worthier target, albeit beyond my personal capability in one month. But I knew that with help from some friends, we could do it.

“It wasn’t hard to get 11 gym colleagues onboard, especially as it was for Jacob and his family, and that’s how the ‘Dumbbell Dozen’ and ‘Jacob’s Jumbo Jet Lift’ was born. But one week into the challenge, we decided to supersize it and are now aiming to lift the equivalent weight of two planes – a Boeing 747 jumbo and an Airbus A380 super jumbo – which is 1,000 tonnes!”

The month-long challenge is taking place at FLOW in West Mersea with the full support of founder Tom Bonds, who has set up a dedicated challenge page on the gym’s website. The ‘Dumbbell Dozen’ comprises ten men and two women, who will lift a total of 1,000 tonnes over the month of July using barbells, dumbbells and kettlebells via a range of exercises, including squats, deadlifts, presses, rows and raises. As well as lifting the first kilos on 1 July, Jacob will be there alongside the team to lift the final kilos of the challenge on 31 July.

Jacob’s mum Lydia Ackerman said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Colin and every single person taking part in this challenge and standing with Jacob. It’s about more than physical strength and endurance. They’re helping to shine a light on muscular dystrophy and supporting those, like my son Jacob, who face its challenges every day. For families like ours, each day brings new tests of resilience, but also new reasons to fight, raise awareness, to fund research, and to push for treatments that can change lives.

“Jacob is an inspiration. Despite the physical difficulties he faces, he remains determined, joyful and full of life. He’s joining this challenge, not just to raise funds, but to stand proudly among those working for a better future. A future where a diagnosis of muscular dystrophy comes with hope, not fear. This challenge is symbolic of the strength our community shows in the face of this condition.”

Connal Kelleher, Community Fundraising Manager at Muscular Dystrophy UK said: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to Colin and the rest of the Dumbbell Dozen for taking on this incredible challenge for us in support of Jacob. The money raised will help us to continue to fund research to improve understanding of muscle wasting conditions and lead to new treatments, as well as provide help and support to those who need it.

“But the impact of this challenge goes beyond fundraising as they are also helping to increase awareness of muscle wasting conditions within their local community and beyond, which is so important. As Jacob’s mum Lydia said, they are shining a light on muscular dystrophy and standing with us and the rest of the community in working for a better future. Together we are stronger.”

To support Jacob’s Jumbo Jet Lift, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/jumbo-lift

For more information about fundraising your way for Muscular Dystrophy UK, visit www.musculardystrophyuk.org/fundraise-your-way

Find out more about Muscular Dystrophy UK at www.musculardystrophyuk.org