THREE intrepid Rugby League supporters are embarking on an epic journey to raise money for Rugby League Cares – the umbrella charity of Rugby League and raise awareness for our sport as a whole.
Rugby League Cares works in supporting four main areas of Rugby League: protecting the heritage, grants for grassroots Rugby League and other areas, player welfare and the benevolent fund which is currently supporting the family of recently injured Conor Lynes.
It also works directly with the Steve Prescott Foundation and State of Mind.
The volunteers aim to raise £3,000 which could help the charity positively affect the lives of even more people involved in Rugby League.
Dan and his two friends Beck and Mike have purchased an old 02 plate Renault Scenic and set off on their journey on Saturday April 4 to arrive in Perpignan for Monday April 6 in time for the Catalans Dragons Vs Widnes Vikings Super League fixture.
They are hoping to receive donations along the way in the form of car merchandise to help make their old motor look like a Rugby League Fun Bus on the way into Perpignan and are also asking to have their car signed by every available first team player in Super League!
Currently ticked off the #InkOnMetal car signing list are Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Giants, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Hull FC, Salford Red Devils, St Helens, Castleford, Wigan and Warrington, with Widnes and Hull KR coming up over the following week, concluding with Catalan on Monday just before their fixture with Widnes Vikings.
The group will be roughing it – eschewing hotels for tents – and using only good old fashioned maps for navigation.
They will also be engaging via social media with all of their details below for Rugby League fans to follow them on their journey. They will even be uploading Vlog updates via youtube during their Road Trip and hope to interact with as many Rugby League fans as possible.
These fans really are going to some lengths to get every Super League club on board for what is speculated to be a first in professional sport – were every first team player of the top division of a league competition sign the same vehicle.
Following their return the vehicle will become Rugby League Cares official mascot for 2015 and fans may get a chance to see it at prestigious events such as Magic Weekend and even the Super League Grand Final where fans can have a look at their team’s signatures and get pictures.
Katie Irwin, Operations Manager of RLCares commented: “We are proud to be associated with Dan, Beck and Mike’s journey and are extremely humbled to have been chosen as their nominated charity. The generosity of ordinary fans of Rugby League never ceases to amaze us, and we will be offering any help we can to the lads along the way.”
The Rugby League Road Trip team added: “This began as a normal away day plan as we have always wanted to travel to Perpignan. However it presented a great opportunity for us to raise awareness for our sport and the great work Rugby League Cares does from supporting growth at grassroots to helping Rugby League stars find a career after Rugby League. Our sport is truly unique and this was proved after only a few phone calls and clubs started organising dates for signing our car.
“We sincerely appreciate the generosity of these large businesses and thank them for their support. We hope our trip can entertain fans and they join us on our journey through social media and help us raise as much money as possible for a great cause! Our aim is £3000 but with the help of ordinary fans like us we could raise an amount of money that will positively affect the lives of thousands of people involved in Rugby League nationwide.”
You can follow the Rugby League Road Trip a number of ways:
- Twitter – @RL_RoadTrip
- Facebook – www.facebook.com/RugbyLeagueRoadTrip
- Youtube – www.youtube.com/channel/UC7pOBmi8u0kYVe_ZcfOtX3w
- And you can donate directly to Rugby League Cares through Dan’s JustGiving account: www.justgiving.com/RLRoadTrip or by texting ‘RLRT99 £2′ to 70070 to donate £2.
- See www.rugbyleaguecares.org for more information
