Steve's million kilo weigh in

Former international power lifter, Wing Commander Steve Walsh from RAF Kinloss has taken on a charity challenge of truly Herculean proportions.

He is currently half way through his plan to lift 1 million kilograms in the gym in under 100 days in aid of the Archie Foundation and the Ladybird Group.

Steve, 45 and his wife Tracey have three young daughters: Ava (6), Mya (5) and their youngest, two year-old Sophia, who has Cerebral Palsy. Like all families with disabled children they have depended on both emotional and financial support from a number of organisations, including the Archie Foundation.

Steve, who is the Officer Commanding Transition Wing at RAF Kinloss said: ‘The Archie Foundation is a fantastic charity; it is focused entirely on helping children with illness or disability in the North of Scotland. Archie is currently involved in raising funds to refurbish the Children’s Wards at both Dr Grays in Elgin and Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. In terms of our family, Archie has helped us with funding for a specialist support suit for Sophia which has made a real difference to her posture and for which for which we are hugely grateful. Archie helps make a real difference to parents and their children; I cannot rate the charity highly enough.’

Some of the money raised will also go to the Ladybird Group in Lossiemouth where Sophia is a regular. Sophia also goes to Noah’s Ark playgroup in Forres where she has been made very welcome and has made lots of really good little friends. The RAF Benevolent Fund has also provided support.

Steve started the challenge on 23 October, but due to the high risk of injury, he did not want to start fund-raising until he reached the half-way point. He passed the 500,000 kilogram mark 44 days later on 5 December and hopes to complete the challenge well inside the target date of 30 January 2012. He has based his plan around the three power lifts of squat, bench press and dead lift in workouts that include lifting 185 kilograms (418lbs) for 10 repetitions. Steve, a two-time national champion is confident that if he can avoid injury he can complete the challenge saying: "I think as Christmas approaches I will start to regret having started all of this but as people start to sponsor me there is no way that I will be able to even think about pulling out".

Should you wish to sponsor Steve please donate through http://www.justgiving.com/Million-Kilo-Challenge