Splash Projects team takes on Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge 2026 in support of SSAFA
The Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge 2026 brought together teamwork, resilience and purpose in one demanding day of trekking, kayaking and cycling in the Peak District.
And what a result.
Team Just Add Splash, made up of Lloyd Comer, Ken Turk, Liam Acca and Josh Poole, absolutely smashed it, finishing 7th out of 47 teams in our class. A brilliant achievement and we are all incredibly proud of the team.
For Splash Projects, this was more than a charity challenge. It was a chance to support SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, celebrate the strength of our veteran-led team and show what happens when people come together with a shared mission.
The nine-hour challenge tested stamina, navigation, decision-making and trust across three disciplines: trekking, kayaking and cycling.
From community builds to charity challenges: why this mattered to Splash Projects
At Splash Projects, we know the power of teamwork under pressure. Through our community projects and team building with purpose, we see first-hand what people can achieve when they work together.
This challenge was especially meaningful because the team was fundraising for SSAFA. The charity is close to our hearts, with many members of the Splash team having strong personal connections to the Armed Forces community.
A biking, trekking and kayaking challenge built on teamwork
The Samworth Brothers Challenge is not just about physical endurance. It is a team endurance challenge, where strategy, communication and unity matter just as much as strength and fitness.
Lloyd Comer, team captain, explained that the event had one clear rule that shaped the whole experience: the team could not be more than 20 metres apart.
That meant every checkpoint, step, paddle stroke and pedal stroke had to be completed together.
The challenge included mandatory checkpoints across the three disciplines. In their category, teams only had to collect one mandatory checkpoint in each discipline. But Just Add Splash went much further, completing three mandatory checkpoints on kayaking and cycling, and two on the trekking. With four mandatory checkpoints being the maximum available in each discipline, it is fair to say the team pushed hard and made every section count.
Taking on Castleton, Mam Tor, Ladybower and Winnats Pass
The challenge took place in the dramatic landscape of the Peak District, with each section bringing a different kind of test.
The mountain section took teams across iconic terrain, including routes around Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, the highest point in the Peak District. It was a test of endurance, navigation and teamwork, with steep climbs, rocky ground and sweeping views across the national park.
The kayaking section took place on Ladybower Reservoir. Surrounded by forested hills and open skies, the team had to work in sync, paddle efficiently and stay focused, even when cold, wet and tired.
The cycling section brought some of the toughest terrain of the day, including demanding routes around the Peak District and the legendary Winnats Pass. Lloyd described parts of the cycling as far from a normal cycle route, with extremely tough ground and challenging conditions.
Team Just Add Splash gave it everything.
Lloyd Comer on what brought the team together
When asked how the challenge brought the team together, Lloyd said it came down to:
“A common bond, the will to achieve the challenge, loyalty to each other and something to strive for – the charity, SSAFA.”
This was not just about finishing. It was about fundraising for SSAFA, representing Splash, supporting one another and proving what can be achieved when a team commits to a shared goal.
For Splash, that message connects directly back to what we do every day: bringing people together through practical, purpose-led challenges that create lasting impact for teams and communities.
Whether on a community projects or halfway through a Peak District charity event, the principle is the same: people are stronger when they work together.
The biggest lesson: trust each other
For Lloyd, the biggest lesson from the Samworth Challenge 2026 was simple:
“Trust each other.”
There were moments when the course became particularly tough. The last hour of the trek involved a steep, rocky peak that pushed the team. The final 10 minutes in the kayak were cold, wet and uncomfortable. Then came the cycling, where reaching the next checkpoint meant tackling terrain that Lloyd described as extremely tough and not a traditional cycle route.
In those moments, the team had to rely on one another completely.
That is what makes a teamwork so powerful. It all comes down to communication, commitment and belief in the people around you.
The moment that gave the team a boost
Every endurance challenge has moments that stay with you.
For Lloyd, one of the highlights was finding some of the most difficult checkpoints, including one hidden in a water trough.
Finding it gave the team a huge boost.
In a challenge where navigation, strategy and morale all matter, moments like that can change the energy of the whole team. Each checkpoint represented progress, reward and proof that the team’s planning and perseverance were paying off.
A team that never lets each other down
When asked whether the challenge changed the way he saw his teammates, Lloyd’s answer said everything about the strength of the group.
It did not change his view, because he already knew what they were made of.
He described each individual as reliable, committed and people who:
“Never let you down”
and who give everything they do their all.
What makes the perfect team?
Lloyd was also asked what makes the perfect team of four people.
His answer was clear: you need a strategic thinker, a good navigator, a team player and a motivator.
Team Just Add Splash brought all four.
That is an outstanding achievement and a proud moment for everyone at Splash Projects.
A brilliant result for Team Just Add Splash
Team Just Add Splash finished the Samworth Brothers Charity Challenge 2026 with an incredible result: 7th out of 47 teams in our class.
Lloyd summed up the experience perfectly:
“It was great fun, great sense of achievement and hard work!”
The whole team should be incredibly proud. Lloyd, Ken, Liam and Josh showed determination, resilience, loyalty and plenty of Splash spirit.
And the best part?
Everyone in the team said they would do it again.
So, Samworth charity challenge – we’ll see you in 2028!
Thank you for supporting our SSAFA charity challenge
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated, supported, encouraged and cheered the team on throughout the Samworth Brothers charity challenge
Your support has helped us raise funds for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.
We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed so far.
Our fundraising is still open, and we would love to reach £4,000.
Help us keep going
Please donate here: https://page.justgiving.com/fundraising-heroes?pageId=JG_53817483&utm_source=JG_leaderboard_CopyURL&utm_medium=JG_leaderboard_page&utm_campaign=JG_leaderboard
Every donation helps make a difference.
