Fitness fan dad aims to '˜raise the Titanic' for charity

(Left to right) Isabella Williams, Catherine Williams, Peter Williams, John Williams and Joseph Williams. (s)

Dad-of-twins Pete (31), from Burnley, is helping to organise a world record weightlifting attempt where volunteers will attempt to lift the weight of the ocean liner – 52,000 tonnes or 5.2 million kilogrammes – in a day, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Pete, a detective constable with Greater Manchester Police, is recruiting pals from the Burnley area to help support the event.

The attempt to get into the Guinness World Records list will be held on Saturday April 16th, two days after the 104th aniversary of the ill-fated liner’s sinking in the Atlantic.

“I don’t whether the choice of date was deliberate or just coincidence,” said Pete.

“The whole thing is the brainchild of Scott Britton, who’s a detective with me at GMP. He just wanted something that symbolised a huge weight.”

The volunteers face the challenge of dead-lifting a choice of three bars pre-set with 50, 100 and 150Kg at least 10 times before resting, so three people can be lifting at the same time.

Pete trains at Lifestyle Fitness, Burnley, three or four times a week and at Black Knights martial arts centre, also in Burnley.

Some of his friends have offered to help on the day, including Burnley-based sports therapist Aidan Holgate. Iceberg Supplements in Standish Street are also supporting the effort, and Pete is hoping to enlist the support of other local companies.

Pete is more than happy to support Macmillan Cancer Support in gratitude for their help when his father John Williams (59), of Rossendale Road, was being treated for throat cancer.

He said: “I’ve had very positive dealings with Macmillan. My dad is having a good recovery, and the family has had a great experience with them.”

More than 100 people have already signed up for the attempt at the Olympic Gym in Bridgewater Street, Eccles, and the Facebook page has reached more than 2,000 people.

Celebrity strongman Mark Felix, of television’s “Britain’s Strongest Man” is taking part and aims to bring some of his super-strong pals, but volunteers of all abilities can take part.

Pete added: “We’ll either reach the target and get into the Guinness records or we’ll collapse trying!”

Any would-be helpers can email Pete at [email protected] or [email protected] and donations can be made on www.justgiving.com/raisingthetitanic or text 70070 followed by LIFT97 and the amount,