Weightlift challenge after daughter's sepsis death

Maddy's father said she loved rugby and "found a sense of sisterhood" in the sport

A father is taking on a bench pressing challenge in memory of his daughter who died from Sepsis.

Maddy Lawrence from Petersfield was 20 when she died from an infection in hospital in Bristol two weeks after dislocating a hip in a university rugby match in March 2022.

Maddy's father Simon Lawrence and friend Dave Cosway will be attempting to bench press 10 tonnes an hour each, for 24 hours, the equivalent of 100 rhinos - to raise money for the charity they set up in her memory.

The final event at Petersfield Rugby Club is scheduled to finish just before Petersfield's 1st XV home match vs Bournemouth.

Simon Lawrence and David Cosway will take on the '100 Rhino' challenge on October 24th

A coroner at an inquest held in 2023 concluded Maddy's death at Southmead Hospital on 25 March 2022 was contributed to by neglect.

Following her death, Karen and Simon Lawrence set up the charity Maddy's Mark to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women through rugby.

It funds rugby coaches to go into schools with the aim of helping to promote inclusivity, fitness, positive self-esteem and the value of lasting friendships through rugby.

Mr Lawrence said Maddy loved rugby and "found a sense of sisterhood" in the sport.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent Mr Lawrence said: "When Maddy died we were in a terrible pickle and needed to find some purpose... and we realised the best way to go was through women's rugby."

"We've donated over £130,000 and we've got funding to over 5000 girls to help women understand the physical benefits but also the mental health benefits of rugby and it's community."

Speaking about this year's fundraiser - the '100 Rhino' challenge - Mr Cosway said he'd been looking to do something for the charity for some time.

"I was in the gym and it struck me that we could do something to do with bench pressing and some weights.

"I caught up with Simon about it in the pub and he said he wanted to do it with me."

The pair will be starting the challenge on October 24 having trained "muscles they didn't know existed" after months of preparation.