A herculean challenge at Petersfield Rugby Club will be worth the weight for a father and friend as their 24-hour fundraiser should lift a charity to new heights.

Simon Lawrence and Dave Cosway want to raise £10,000 for Maddy’s Mark by each lifting the equivalent of 100 rhinos by bench-pressing ten tonnes an hour.

They plan to finish the 100 Rhino Challenge before Petersfield 1st XV take on Bournemouth in front of a bumper crowd at Penns Place next Saturday, October 25.

“I was at the gym thinking how I could raise money for MM and my mind started wandering on how many lifts I could do in a day,” said Mr Cosway, with the challenge beginning next Friday afternoon.

“I told Simon that I wanted to do this and straight away he said ‘I will do this with you’.

“It’s not about the weight, but the duration, but from the moment we started training everyone has been so unbelievable helpful, from the personal trainers to Steve Siddolph at Gladiator Camp and the rugby club.

“But it’s worth it because I know no man more inspirational than Maddy’s father.”

Maddy’s Mark has become one of Petersfield’s most-loved charities since being launched in 2022 in memory of Simon’s daughter, Maddy Lawrence.

The rugby-loving student from Sheet was just 20 when she died from sepsis following an injury.

The charity aims to get more girls into rugby and experience all the benefits it brings, from inclusivity and fitness to positive self-esteem and friendship.

More than 5,000 girls have attended a MM rugby or wellbeing session while it has also funded many programmes in schools, often in partnership with English Premiership Rugby Clubs.

The ‘mad’ duo will welcome any support at Penns Place throughout their attempt, to donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/100rhinochallenge