Thank you to everyone that has supported this event, the journey has been fantastic. I have learnt a lot about myself and others, seeing people support one another in different ways has on a few occasions moved me to tears. I think pleasure and pain are close neighbours, to appreciate pleasure fully you need to have felt some pain. An amazing group of people have ‘Rucked Over Cancer’, this includes the fundraisers and the small army of volunteers that helped to organise this very special day. 

I hope to join you ‘Ruckers’ again……. 

My story... 

Last summer my wife Liz was diagnosed with breast cancer, this altered our families lives. This horrible disease challenged us in ways that you can't imagine, thankfully Liz is now in great shape, recovering from her operations and treatment. 

Our children and I play rugby for Oswestry Rugby Club, all of us have made very close friends through the club. Within weeks of Liz's diagnosis another friend and a Mum of a boy who plays in Tom's age group, Theresa, was diagnosed with breast cancer, this rocked, the players, coaches and parents. You'd never believe that could happen in a team of 16 boys, but it fits in with Breast Cancer statistics, 1 in 8. Recently our seemingly invincible rugby club president Martin Ord was diagnosed with prostate cancer and this was the catalyst for this fundraising idea. 

This disease, has taken too many of our family and friends, so on the 19th September rugby is going to 'Ruck Over Cancer'. Two Oswestry Rugby Club teams made up of players, coaches, parents, and friends are going to take each other on in an Ironman Race, each person will either swim 2.4 miles, run 26.2 miles or cycle 112 miles. Each team will be trying to raise a minimum of £15,000. My team will be supporting Breast Cancer UK and we are trying to cross the line in front of team Prostate Cancer UK in raising funds for this life saving charity. 

I will be swimming 2.4 miles in open water, running a marathon, hoping to crack 4 hours, and jumping out of a perfectly good aeroplane to raise awareness of this disease and funds for Breast Cancer UK.  

Breast Cancer UK 

Thalie Martini, CEO of Breast Cancer UK, ‘Wow, what a challenge!  And that they’re raising this incredible amount of money for these two important charities this will make such an impact.  Breast Cancer UK will use the money raised to support more women across the UK to understand and reduce their risk of developing breast cancer and to fund vital research to help us understand the causes of breast cancer. 

Over 25% of breast cancer cases are preventable through making simple changes to your lifestyle. The money the women and men of Oswestry Rugby Club raise will help us work towards reducing the number of women who will suffer the devasting impact of being diagnosed with this terrible disease, along with the pain it brings to their families and friends.  Together we can prevent breast cancer.’