CANTERBURY rugby players will be getting on their bikes to raise cash for specialist equipment for the club’s newest section.
A charity bike ride will be held in September to bring in funds for the new wheelchair players’ group at the Canterbury Rugby Football Club.
The cash will pay for rugby chairs as normal wheelchairs are too fragile for the sport and specialised chairs, costing around £3,000-£4,000 each, are needed.
The club wants its own stock of chairs to allow people to come and try out and join the squad. At the moment it is borrowing chairs from a London club.
Canterbury Rugby Football Club is the only facility in Kent offering the Paralympian version of the sport and is attracting athletes from across the county.
Originally called Murderball, the sport combines elements of rugby, ice hockey and basketball into a full-contact, high-octane game.
Despite being one of the 25 nations around the world which plays wheelchair rugby, there are less than 20 teams across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Club vice chairman Jonathan Marsh said he was inspired to provide wheelchair rugby since the 2012 Paralympic Games, where the UK came fifth. He said: “We already offer the full contact game in the winter to men, ladies and the full range of age groups at mini and junior levels. We also host touch rugby in the summer and wish to develop this further.”
The club has had a lot of support so far, including the expertise of Steve Brown, the captain of the 2012 UK wheelchair rugby team, who is leading the coaching effort, and the club and their supporters in general who have provided help to fund chairs so far.
It is hoped more cash will be raised by the ride, in partnership with Gardner Croft Solicitors, Wildside events and Canterbury Index Magazine, on Saturday September 27. There will be two distances for riders to take up, to satisfy all from novices to the more serious riders. To find out more visit canterburybikeride.co.uk
Canterbury Rugby Football Club holds open wheelchair rugby sessions from 1pm-4pm every Sunday at Canterbury High, Canterbury Academy, Knight Avenue.
Article source: http://www.espnscrum.com/super-rugby-2014/rugby/story/233711.html
Canterbury rugby club to hold wheelchair fundraiser
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