The Rugby League Cares Heartlands Cycling Challenge has been full of uplifting moments, but the involvement of John Power and Jimmy Gittins with their sons Jordan and Jed has been perhaps the most heartwarming of all.
Gittins was in the Dewsbury opposition when Power’s life changed in an appearance for Oldham reserves in 1995 which his coach Andy Goodway had already confirmed would soon be followed by a first team debut.
A few years later Gittins would suffer an equally abrupt end to his playing career in equally harrowing circumstances, in his case having returned to the community game with Sharlston Rovers.
Yet two decades on, not only are Power and Gittins reunited in the Cycling Challenge to raise money for the Seriously Injured Players Fund which has supported their inspirational recoveries – but they have been joined by their teenage sons.
“The Benevolent Fund didn’t exist when I suffered my injury,” reflected Power, who attended Friday night’s Betfred Super League fixture between Huddersfield and Leigh Leopards as a guest of the Giants to raise awareness of the Charity Round.
“I got brilliant support from my family, close friends and local clubs. It was through Dave Phillips that I heard about the Fund.
“I saw Jimmy in hospital going through a routine check-up before we knew about the Fund – I’d never have dreamed then that we could become fathers, never mind see them riding together in this Challege.
“And I’m really pleased to have this chance to raise money and awareness on the Cycling Challenge..”
Power is from Rochdale, meaning he’ll have a foot in both camps at this weekend’s Betfred Championship derby which sees Hornets take on Oldham 131 years after the local rivals became founder members of the Northern Union.
He was a member of a successful Mayfield junior team alongside Paul Sculthorpe and Ian Knott, then moved to Oldham first with Waterhead and then in the Roughyeds Academy. He had been due to replace Wally Gibson at full-back in Goodway’s senior team until he suffered a spinal cord injury in a freak accident, and was left paralysed from the neck down.
His response has been truly remarkable. He earned a BSc and MSc in Computing Software at Liverpool John Moores University, and now works as a senior developer in central Manchester.
He married Julie in 2010, standing alongside her at the altar for the first time since suffering his injury, and they have three very sporty children – two netball-playing daughters and Jordan, who plays a range of sports including Rugby League, and was wearing a Saddleworth Rangers hoodie as the cyclists left Siddal on Friday morning.
John has a long history of raising money to help seriously injured players, having completed a marathon on a rowing machine, and a half marathon in a racing wheelchair at Silverstone.
Now he is back on the bike - this time with his son! - and hoping that the Rugby League family will again show their support.
To support the Heartlands Cycle Challenge, click on their Just Giving link here Seriously Injured Players Fund is fundraising for RFL Benevolent Fund
Rugby League Cares are asking Rugby League fans to consider making a donation of £2 to support the Charity Round and the Seriously Injured Players Fund. For more details, click here Seriously Injured Players Fund is fundraising for RFL Benevolent Fund