Can you 'Walk the Walk' for Rugby League Cares?

[League Express]

 

Rugby League fans are set to unite for an historic set of walks across the North of England.
Over a 7 day period, just before the World Cup kicks off, hundreds of people from all parts of the RL family will take to the roads.
It’s a chance to show the importance of the sport to the communities in which its played.
And at the same time it will raise money to help protect the game’s heritage, it’s future and support badly injured players.
In a rallying call, Terry Flanagan, chairman of the game’s charity, RL Cares, has urged as many as possible to pull on their walking boots to show the world that Rugby League people can make a difference.

“It’s going to be a fantastic mass participation event, “ says Terry. “ We want as many people as possible out there.
“ Clubs, supporters groups, friends – get together with others and get walking.”
In the East of the country, the walks start on Friday, 18th October at Hornsea. And over the next 7 days travel through various towns and cities.
In the West, they begin on Saturday, 19th oct, with 6 days of activities planned.
Both sets of walks meet up in Huddersfield on the 24th October.
"People can walk as far as they like, “says Terry, “ There are challenging walks over a number of days, or daily and community mile walks are planned.
“All of the routes make their way through some key historical locations linked to the early days of the sport.
“The objective is to encourage a pilgrimage back to where it all began in 1895, the George Hotel.”
RL Cares has partnered up with the Trans Pennine Trail, and has support from the 23 authorities through which the walks will pass.
Participation is free, though anyone taking part will need to register via the Rugby League Cares website and commit to raising funds for the charity.  

Full details at: www.rugbyleaguecares.org

[John Drake]

FOUNDERS WALK INFO

Background – What is it?

The Rugby League Founders Walk is a Rugby League Cares, mass participation fundraising event.
The event will take place over seven days from the 18th to the 24th of October, and forms part of the build-up to the start of the Rugby League World Cup. As the Rugby League playing nations are in their final preparations for the Tournament, Rugby League’s charity Rugby League Cares will be focused on encouraging the whole of the Rugby League community to come together in celebration of the founding of our sport over 100 years ago.   
Rugby League Cares is calling on everyone who cares about Rugby League to participate in the challenge and walk for those in the sport who need help. People can walk as far as they like with challenging walks taking place over a number of days, daily and community mile walks planned. All of the planned routes make their way through some of the key historical locations linked to the early days of the sport. The charity’s objective is to encourage a Rugby League pilgrimage headed back to where it all began in 1895, the George Hotel in Huddersfield.  
Cares has created a new partnership with the Trans Pennine Trail to deliver the event and through this has the support of all 23 Local Authorities that span the trail. Two separate legs have been created, one starting in Southport in the North West, the other from Hornsea near Hull in the East. Both routes meet in Huddersfield the day before the opening ceremony of the 2013 RLWC in Cardiff.
Participation is free, although anyone planning to take part will be required to register via the Rugby League Cares website and commit to raising funds for the charity. Participant information packs will be provided to all registered participants. Marketing information will be distributed throughout the game.    
Expectations are that the event will generate lots of interest and publicity. To help with this we’ve recruited some high profile names from within the game to participate in the walk. Our RL celebrities will walk a day or will be attempting to complete one of the Eastern or Western legs.

Where does it take place?

Founders Walk takes place over two legs one starting in Hornsea in the East (128miles), the other Southport in the West (111 miles).  Both legs will converge on the 24th of October in the birth place of Rugby League, Huddersfield. Each leg is then made up of a number of daily stages that are between 14 – 25.5 miles. There are 13 stages in total spanning the two legs East and West. The Eastern Leg is comprised of 7 daily stages and the Western leg 6 daily stages.

The dates, start, finish locations and distances are outlined on the table below:

Eastern Leg:
Date    Start    Finish    Distance
Day One
Friday 18th Oct    Hornsea    Hull    14.75 Miles
Day Two
Saturday 19th Oct    Hull    Broomfleet    20 Miles
Day Three
Sunday 20th Oct    Broomfleet    Selby    23 Miles
Day Four
Monday 21st Oct    Selby     Braithwaite    20.25 Miles
Day Five
Tuesday 22nd Oct    Braithwaite    Harlington    19 Miles
Day Six
Wednesday 23rd Oct    Harlington    Penistone    17 Miles
Day  Seven
Thursday 24th Oct     Penistone    Huddersfield     18.75 Miles

Western Leg
Date    Start    Finish    Distance
Day One
Saturday 19th Oct    Southport    Aintree    14.75 Miles
Day Two
Sunday 20th Oct    Aintree     Halton Stadium    18.25 Miles
Day Three
Monday 21st Oct    Halton Stadium     Mersey Valley Visitor Centre    22.75 Miles
Day Four
Tuesday 22nd Oct    Mersey Valley Visitor Centre    Hadfield    25.5 Miles
Day Five
Wednesday 23rd Oct    Hadfield     Penistone    16 Miles
Day  Six
Thursday 24th Oct     Penistone    Huddersfield    18.75 Miles

How can we/I take part?

Participants have a number of options for how they can join in the Rugby League Founders Walk and all registered participants will receive an information and fundraising pack.

1.    Take on the challenge and Register to walk one of the legs. Participants wishing to take on the challenge of walking one of the legs must commit to raising a minimum of £500.00 by the 11th of October, 2013. Special arrangements will be made for participants registering to walk one of the legs including accommodation and specialist support during the challenge. Please contact info@rlcares.org.uk to enquire.   

2.    Register to walk a stage. Choose from one of the daily stages and register to participate. Walking will take place between the hours of 8am – 6pm. Each stage will have a dedicated start and end point and will be support by the Trans Pennine Trail volunteers and supporters. Routes, specialist information and support will be provided.

3.    Register to take part in one of our community walks. We believe that anyone can take part in the Rugby League Founders Walk and to support this we’ve organised daily community walks to accommodate everyone who loves the sport and wants to show their support. The community walks will take place during the day and early evening over 1 – 2 miles. This is a great way to take part if you are a school, club, team and business. All you have to do is register.

Participant Terms and Conditions

1. Participants will be required to raise funds for Rugby League Cares. There will be no set amount unless they are completing more than one stage of either the East or Western leg.

2. Participants must register to walk and are required to set up a Just Giving page to monitor and collect their fundraising. Participants without access to the internet will be provided with sponsor forms on request.

3. Participants can enter to walk as far as they are able on one of the specified daily walking stages on either the Eastern or Western leg of the routes. Participants will need to make their own arrangements for pick up once they have reach their final destination.

4. Organisations are encouraged to register and use the event to raise funds for local good causes. This could be a team or club, a nominated charity or local community initiative. Organisations registering to participate will be required to donate a minimum 20% of the total funds they raise to Rugby League Cares. There will be no entry fees for clubs or teams.

5. All participants will be provided with a fundraising pack and all the relevant information for them to safely complete the route.
To find out more and register to participate in the Rugby League Founders Walk please go to:

www.rugbyleaguecares.org/Founderswalk

[amm]

I'm a member of RL Cares and will certainly look at how I can join in - and will spread the word via facebook and twitter

 

It's a shame it's not finishing on the day of the Eng v Irl match when a lot of us are making our way to Huddersfield - a mix of old Penguins, other TRLers and generally anyone from RL connections - but I suppose it is to launch the RLWC2013 and to bring all the games to the attention of the public. We could have had a right laugh making our way to meet up and collect along the way. Maybe we can still collect on the day ....John, as you seem to have the connections, who should we contact at RL Cares to see if we can do something on match day - after the main event, but still surely worth a bucket collection?

[Mistress_Marlowe]

Who should we contact at RL Cares to see if we can do something on match day - after the main event, but still surely worth a bucket collection?

Chris Rostron at RL Cares. :-)

[amm]

Chris Rostron at RL Cares. :-)

 

thanks Vik, John has already given me a couple of names and I've emailed them

[John Drake]

BBC CREW JOIN RUGBY LEAGUE CARES FOUNDERS’ WALKS

Salford Red Devils coach and BBC summariser Brian Noble and BBC Rugby League presenter Tanya Arnold are the latest pair to put their best foot forward and sign up for Rugby League’s historic Founders’ Walks.
 
The week long series of walks in October are a celebration of the game’s rich heritage.

They will also raise money for the Rugby League Cares charity that is dedicated to supporting the RL community at all levels.

“ It’s a fun and social way for anyone to put something back into this great game that we love,” said former GB coach Noble (pictured). “ I think there will be a lot of Rugby League camaraderie on each of these walks. We can show what the game means to us. And at the same time raise some cash for some great causes.”

Several professional and community clubs have already pledged their support for the Founders’ Walks.
   
One walk starts in the east of the country at Hull on Friday 18th October, and the other in the west at Southport on Saturday 19th  October
   
Over the next few days they will cover varying distances before meeting in Huddersfield on Thursday 24th October, with a celebration walk taking in the George Hotel, where the game was founded, the following day.
   
BBC presenter Tanya said: “ How far anyone walks is up to them. Anyone can join in at any point at any given day. Whether they walk 20 miles or 1 mile, it doesn’t matter.”
    
Fans of different clubs – professional or community -  are especially encouraged to sign up together and walk in their clubs’ colours.

The only stipulation is that everyone taking part registers at the Rugby League Cares website and pledges to raise money for the game’s charity.
     
Full details of the routes can be found at http://www.rugbyleaguecares.org and click on the footprint.