Glossop dad takes on gruelling challenge to thank school

A Glossop father is preparing to take on an incredibly tough challenge to raise money for the school that has transformed his young son’s life.  

Ben Pearson will compete in this year’s World Coal Carrying Championships, tackling a 1km course while carrying a 50kg sack of coal on his back. He is aiming to raise £1,000 for Whitfield St James’ Church of England Primary School in Glossop, where his four-year-old son Ray receives vital support.  

“Ray is autistic and needs a lot of extra help” Ben explained. “The school has done so much for him and for our family, and I wanted to find a way to give something back.”  

Ray had struggled in a mainstream nursery environment and was no longer able to be supported there. That was when St James’ stepped in and offered him a place in their specialist SEN class.  

“It might sound like a small thing, but it made a huge difference” said Ben. “Without the school’s support, either my wife or I would have had to leave our job to look after Ray full-time. Since being there, he has improved in all areas. The staff are fantastic.”  

Ben, who runs a local business called Glossop Gardening Guy, decided to take on the famous coal carrying race as a way of saying thank you.  

“I’ve set up a JustGiving page and I’m hoping people will donate if they can,” he said. “But if not, there’s no pressure - I know we live in mad times.”  

As well as raising funds, Ben hopes sharing his family’s story might help other parents in similar situations.  

“I’m happy to chat with anyone going through something like this who maybe hasn’t been as lucky as we have” he added. “I might not be able to solve everything, but talking to someone who understands can really help.”  

The challenge Ben is taking on is part of one of the UK’s most unusual and demanding sporting traditions. The World Coal Carrying Championships take place on Easter Monday, 6 April 2026, in Yorkshire.  

Now in its 63rd year, the event sees competitors race along the course carrying heavy sacks of coal. The championships include a men’s race with a 50kg sack and a women’s race with a 20kg sack, alongside youth and children’s fun runs. Each year it attracts entrants from across the region and beyond.  

For Ben, however, it’s about far more than the competition.  

“I just want to do something positive for a school that has done so much for my family,” he said. “If I can raise a bit of money and awareness along the way, it will all be worth it.”  

Donations to Ben’s fundraising appeal can be made at: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ben-pearson-5