Five Logan strongperson teams will endure a gruelling five-hour Yoke Challenge to raise money for the Black Dog Institute.
Held on Sunday 28th May by Strength 4 Strength, the Yoke Challenge requires teams of four to carry a yoke between them for five hours, ranging from 70kg to 160kg.
Founder of Strength 4 Strength Brad Currell said the challenge, which is now an annual event, started in 2021 with just two competitors.
“I thought up the idea and was going to do it myself for a few hours, but my friend Piripi joined in, and we did it for three hours,” Mr Currell said.
“Now we have teams all over Australia, with 42 athletes coming to participate from the Brisbane and Logan area this year.”
“We also have Perth, Hobart, Geelong and Darwin teams who will be doing it this year for the first time in their hometowns, as well as an international team from the US.”
Mr Currell said the Yoke Challenge idea came from his own experiences with mental health.
“I have family members who have struggled with mental health issues,” he said.
“I have had my own struggles too and come from a generation where we just thought this type of thing was just bunging it on and we needed to toughen up.
“Over the years I have come to realise that I have gone through many of those issues myself and I have lost a few friends to suicide, and it affects a lot of people.”
Mr Currell said the yoke carry almost mimics “that heavy load that is on your shoulders during a mental health struggle.”
“The yolk pushes you physically and mentally and it’s really hard to get through, especially five hours of it, you need to go to a really dark place to finish,” he said.
“The first hour in you think your superman, the second you’re still cruising, then once you get to the four hours you start to get a tear in your eye and think it’s never going to end and that puts you in a real dark place, but at the five hours you start coming out the other side.”
The Empire Bodyshop Gym at Beenleigh has put together five Logan teams for the event.
Lead Coach, Emma Cobb said we live in a time of unprecedented demand for mental health services.
“When we speak to our community, our families, local business owners and kids, our people are suffering,” Ms Cobb said.
“We became involved in the challenge last year because we know firsthand how insurmountable that suffering feels.
“We know through our own experiences how dark it can get and how connected we all are by a common thread that is a global mental health crisis.”
Mrs Cobb said the Yoke Challenge had created a wave of change in the strength sport community.
“Because of this initiative, our wider sporting community have an outlet and opportunity to have authentic discussions and seek support for their mental health concerns,” she said.
“While it may be unexpected or unconventional, it has inspired exponential uptake in participation beyond our wildest dreams across Australia and now internationally, all because one person was brave enough to speak up, ask for help and connect to others who felt the same.
“Brad Currell is an unsung hero and national treasure.”
Mr Currell said the event will have a carnival atmosphere this year, with raffles, stalls, food and coffee and a DJ.
“We will also have Australia’s current Strongwoman Nicole Genrich attending this year,” he said.
Mr Currell said all proceeds would go to the Black Dog Institute.
The Strength 4 Strength Yoke Challenge will run on Sunday 28th May at the Australian Catholic University in Banyo.
For more information visit Strength4Strength.com
