Rugby coaches from Northampton to cycle across the country in latest air ambulance fundraiser

A team of coaches from a local rugby club are preparing to take on a gruelling cycling challenge later this month.

Old Northamptonians RFC (ONs) will be pushing the pedals over 260 miles in just 24 hours to raise funds for their own first aid provision and to fundraise for the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA).

On September 18, the team of 24 coaches will cycle from Holyhead, the most western point in Wales, across Wales and England, and finish in Skegness.

With a mixed bag of cycling abilities, the team utilised lockdown over the last few months to train hard and are ready for the gruelling Coast to Coast cycle challenge next week.

The inspirational team has set their fundraising target at £10,000 with half the proceeds going to WNAA, which will be added to the £1,725 the club already raised for the service earlier this year, after the service flew to an incident where two players had suffered head injuries.

Adam Nash, who is a paramedic for the air ambulance and is taking part in the challenge, said: “It is great to be a part of this challenge to help raise funds for the rugby club and for the vital WNAA.

“Our frontline service remained operational 24/7 throughout the pandemic, providing critical care to the people of Northamptonshire and further afield.

“The charity relies on public donations, and with fundraising events being postponed or cancelled, our charity has really been impacted.

“We really do encourage people to support this challenge and to try and get involved in their own challenges too.”

To show your support and help the ONs team, visit their fundraising page.

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