26 Feb 2026 Personal Stories

Henry’s 1,000 Pull-Up Challenge Inspired by Family Connection to The Kirkwood

At just 22 years old, Henry James from Kirkheaton is preparing to push himself to his physical and mental limits all in support of a cause that holds deep personal meaning for him and his family.

Henry will attempt to complete an incredible 1,000 pull ups in a single day, raising vital funds for The Kirkwood, a charity he says has long been a pillar of support for both his family and the wider Kirklees community.

Henry explained: “My connection to The Kirkwood stems from a strong family connection and support for the hospice. I've not only had many family members be cared for by The Kirkwood, but also had family volunteer for The Kirkwood. Moreover, fundraising and partaking in fundraising for The Kirkwood has also been something my family have done, as we have all taken part in the Memory Walk now (The Kirkwood Starlight Walk), with myself having completed it multiple times, as well as running the 10 miles from 2024.” He added: “Overall, The Kirkwood has not only been a strong pillar for my family, but one for the community as a whole, and I think it's a beautiful place to raise money for.”

The ambitious challenge will begin at 11am on 18 April, with Henry completing the pull-ups in carefully planned sets across several hours. Determined to make the effort completely transparent, he will also livestream the entire event online.

“For fundraising, I will be completing 1,000 pull-ups in a day,” Henry said. “I'm documenting my progress on my social media, and I will also be livestreaming the full event so people can not only donate during the stream, but also to show that I am legitimately completing the 1,000 pull-ups.

“I will be completing this in sets of five reps over an extended period of time. I estimate it will take between five and seven hours, but that depends on my overall health at the time.”

Support for Henry’s challenge has already been strong, with more than £900 raised ahead of the big day, something he describes as hugely motivating: “So far, I have raised over £900, which has been an absolutely amazing feeling and I can't thank all the people that have donated enough. I'm honestly super excited for the day of the challenge, as I'm taking my training very seriously, and think it's an amazing chance to show my work ethic whilst also raising money for a cause that I love so much.”

Henry has set himself an ambitious fundraising target of £10,000, inspired by personal challenges he faced earlier this year.

He said: “My target for the event is £10,000, after losing close to that same amount earlier in 2025. This may sound like a moon shot, but with enough support I do think it is potentially possible.”

To help reach that goal, Henry is actively seeking sponsorship and community backing, contacting local businesses and organisations to raise awareness of the challenge: “I'm doing my best to email as many people and companies as possible in an attempt to gain sponsorships and publicity. This challenge is to raise money for a cause that means a lot to the people in the community.”

Having taken part in The Kirkwood Starlight Walk on several occasions, Henry says he has witnessed first hand the impact hospice care has across Kirklees: “The Kirkwood is vital to the Kirklees community. I have seen this visibly multiple times during the big walk, seeing all of the loved ones that have been cared for by the hospice on the backs of people’s shirts.”

For Henry, however, this challenge goes far beyond fitness or fundraising totals: “This challenge is very personal to me, as it is all about turning my pain into a purpose, whilst also supporting a place that supports so many families and means a lot to me.”

As April approaches, Henry hopes the community will rally behind him proving once again how powerful local support can be when people come together for The Kirkwood.

To donate to Henry's challenge click HERE.