Jimmy Gittins, Ryan Glynn, John Power and Pete Stephenson – four of the long-term beneficiaries of Rugby League’s Seriously Injured Players Fund – will put their bodies on the line over the sport’s new Charity Round at the end of August to show fans the value of their generous support.
The intrepid quartet, who all suffered life-changing injuries playing Rugby League at various levels, have agreed to undertake a gruelling Handcycle Challenge on Batec Wheelchair armbikes.
The challenge will take them to a dozen clubs and five matches from three competitions in the space of five days – from the Betfred Super League blockbuster between Wigan Warriors and Hull KR on Thursday August 27 to the 1895 Cup Final between London Broncos and Widnes Vikings on Bank Holiday Monday, August 31.
They hope to give a big boost to the Seriously Injured Players Fund, 21 years since it was founded as the Rugby League Benevolent Fund following the serious injuries suffered in 2004 by Danny Scott and the late Matt King OBE.
Full details and timings of the route will be published in the coming weeks, to give Rugby League fans the chance to show their support for the challenge - with a Just Giving page already launched here Seriously Injured Players Fund is fundraising for RFL Benevolent Fund
The Rugby League Cares Charity Round has been launched in partnership with Rugby League Commercial and the Rugby Football League to bring the sport together in support of the Seriously Injured Players Fund and also the Brain Health Fund, over a special weekend for the sport – as it includes the 131st anniversary of the Northern Union breakaway at Huddersfield’s George Hotel on August 29, 1895, which marked the birth of Rugby League as a rebel code.
The cyclists will be setting off from St Helens’ Brewdog Stadium on the morning of August 27 – three weeks today – and powering over Billinge Hill to reach Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium well in time for the 8pm kick-off of the repeat of the last two Grand Finals.
The following day the focus switches to West Yorkshire, departing from the renowned community club Siddal in the hills above Halifax to reach Huddersfield Giants ahead of their Friday night showdown with Leigh Leopards – although by the time that match kicks off, the fearsome foursome will have made a second Yorkshire journey from Sharlston Rovers to the One Bore Stadium in Castleford, where the Tigers host Catalans Dragons, taking in Featherstone’s famous Post Office Road ground en route.
The choice of Sharlston will be poignant for Gittins, as it was when playing for Rovers in 2002 that he broke his neck in two places. And Saturday August 29 – the birthday of Rugby League – will start in familiar territory both for Jimmy and for Ryan Glynn, with a journey from the community club Thornhill Trojans via the home ground of Dewsbury Rams to the DIY Kitchens Stadium ahead of Wakefield Trinity’s home match against York Knights.
But there will be no time to linger as the lads head further east to Hull for a further ride from Johnny Whiteley Park – the home ground of West Hull ARLFC – to the MKM Stadium where Hull FC host Warrington Wolves in a Saturday evening fixture.
That will be a special day for Stephenson, a black-and-white diehard who won a plethora of trophies with West Hull over six seasons but whose playing career was ended when he suffered a serious spinal cord injury in 2005 after playing only his third game for Hull Dockers – and whose inspirational response has seen him secure a key administrative role in the sport as the RFL’s salary cap and registrations manager.
Sunday involves a trip to the West Cumbrian coast for the Betfred Championship derby between Workington Town and Whitehaven, with a stop at Lowca, one of the county’s many thriving community clubs, on the journey from the Recreation Ground to Derwent Park.
And the long weekend is rounded off by a return to the west of the Pennines as the cyclists travel from Orrell St James to Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium for the 1895 Cup Final, also taking in the Haydock community club.
Pete Stephenson said:
“As soon as we heard about the new Charity Round, we wanted to get involved. When we suffered our injuries, the Benevolent Fund was there for us and our families. It still is, through the Seriously Injured Players Fund, and it’s so important that the support remains available for players who suffer serious injuries in the future.
“We all know Rugby League isn’t the richest sport, but we also know from personal experience that it has a unique spirit. We’ve seen that so many times over the 21 years since the Benevolent Fund was launched, and this Charity Round is a fantastic way of bringing the whole sport together – especially around the birthday of Rugby League on August 29.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge for us, but we’re excited by the prospect of getting around so many clubs and matches. Saturday is going to be special for me, especially the ride from West Hull to the MKM, and I know Jimmy’s just as pleased that we’ll be going to Sharlston, Dewsbury and Wakefield.
“I think the whole weekend is going to be a celebration of the spirit of Rugby League.”
Why your support matters
When catastrophic, life-altering injuries happen on the pitch, life changes overnight. As part of Rugby League Cares, the Seriously Injured Players Fund provides lifelong practical, emotional and financial support to severely injured players. From specialist medical equipment and home accessibility adaptations to immediate family care and retraining, the charity ensures no player ever faces recovery alone.
How You Can Help
A Just Giving page has already been opened for the RL Heartland Handcycle Challenge Seriously Injured Players Fund is fundraising for RFL Benevolent Fund
Every pound raised directly funds life-changing grants, adaptations, and ongoing welfare for injured players navigating life after severe injury.
Please donate today, share our page, and cheer the team on as they call at clubs across the heartlands!