What Is The Military Vs Cancer Field Gun Pull Challenge Across The UK?

Imagine walking down the street and seeing a group of people pulling a massive, old-school cannon. Not something you see every day, right? Well, that's exactly what's been happening up and down the country. A Doncaster-based charity called Military vs Cancer is in the middle of a truly epic challenge: pulling a 1-ton military field gun a staggering 1,000 miles. This incredible journey started all the way at the top of Scotland, at John O’Groats, and is heading for the very bottom of England, Land’s End. This isn't just for a bit of fun; it's a world-first event to raise a huge amount of money and support for some very important people.

The challenge started on 1st September 2025 - follow the progress of the team on Instagram or Facebook.

What exactly is this bonkers challenge?

Let's get our heads around the numbers, because they are pretty massive. The team is aiming to pull a 1-ton field gun – that’s a whopping 1,000 kg. To put that into perspective, it's about the same weight as a fully grown male giraffe. And they’re not just pulling it around the block. They are covering the entire length of the country, a 1,000-mile trip. The whole thing kicked off on the 1st of September, with teams of around 20 people working together each day.

This isn't a gentle stroll, either. They're covering between 20 and 25 miles every single day, which can take up to 10 hours of non-stop effort. An effort like that burns over 6,000 calories a day. On top of the sheer exhaustion, they’re battling blisters, sore muscles, unpredictable British weather, and busy traffic. It’s a huge test of physical and mental strength.

But why are they doing it?

This whole massive pull has a very important purpose. It's all organised by the charity Military vs Cancer. Their goal is to raise £150,000 to help military personnel, veterans, and their immediate families who are affected by cancer. When someone in the armed forces community gets a cancer diagnosis, it turns their world upside down. This charity provides real, practical support to make things a little bit easier during a tough time. The money raised from this event will go towards things like:

• Nursing care
• Travel costs for getting to and from treatment
• Making homes more accessible
• Providing much-needed respite breaks for families
• Creating special experiences for those with a terminal diagnosis
• Funding peer support groups

David Bathgate, the CEO of Military vs Cancer, is the brain behind the idea and is impressively doing the entire 1,000-mile pull himself. He explained the drive behind the challenge:

“Cancer affects so many within the Armed Forces community, whether serving, veterans, or their families. Military vs Cancer is dedicated to providing direct support to those who need it most, and this event is about showing what can be achieved when people come together with determination and purpose.”

He also stressed that every single donation makes a difference to the families they support.

The man with the plan (and the blisters)

The person leading this charge is David Bathgate, the charity's CEO. His connection to this cause is deeply personal. Originally from Leeds and now based in Doncaster, David served for 34 years in the Royal Navy. He knows the military community inside and out. He started the charity after losing several family members to cancer and feeling frustrated by the devastation it causes. He wanted to fight back and create a network of support for military families facing the same battle. He still personally takes calls from people needing help because, as he says, “It matters that they speak to someone who understands.” His dedication is clear – not every CEO would commit to pulling a 1-ton field gun across the UK for 45 days straight.

It takes a community to pull a cannon

An event on this scale is impossible without a huge team effort. And the team for this challenge is massive. Over the 45-day journey, more than 1,300 volunteers are expected to take part in the pull.

The core team changes daily, with new faces from the military, veterans, and the public joining in to help. The support from the public has been amazing. As the gun makes its way down the country, people in towns, villages, and cities have been coming out to cheer them on. Even the World’s Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, showed up in Alness, Scotland, to lend his support. It's a true demonstration of community spirit, with everyone chipping in. David added, “This all wouldn’t be possible without the support of thousands of volunteers, companies and members of the public who are donating to the charity.”

A personal reason to pull

For many of the volunteers, the cause is very close to home. Mark Barnes, a trustee of the charity who served as a weapons engineer from 1988 to 1996, is one of them. His motivation is deeply personal. He said:

“This is a cause very close to my heart. My daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 16, so I know first-hand how important it is to receive support from charities. With my own military background, and my son having served a submariner for nearly nine years, it means even more to me.”

“What an incredible experience. Nothing prepares you for how heavy that gun is – it’s really tough to get moving, and you feel every bump and gradient the road offers up.”

“It means so much to represent the military on this challenge and to personally be a small part of this epic achievement, which I’m sure will not only be remembered for the enormity of the challenge, but also for the money it raises to help military families around the UK deal with their battle with cancer.”

How to support this world-first event

While organisers believe this to be a world first, it's the cause that truly matters. The team is over halfway to Land’s End and still needs support to reach their £150,000 fundraising target. Every bit of help encourages the volunteers as they take on the final leg of this immense journey. Supporting this incredible challenge means supporting the Armed Forces families who are facing their own tough battles with cancer. For anyone wanting to contribute, donations can be made through the official Crowdfunder page for the Military vs Cancer Field Gun Pull.