Rugby legends including Newcastle Falcons boss Dean Richards joined the ‘Mad Dog 100’ in June 2022, cycling more than 100 miles in 24 hours to raise money for cancer treatment at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
Richards was among the riders setting off from Hinckley Rugby Club and pedalling their way around the Leicestershire countryside, with fellow Leicester Tigers old boys Freddie Tuilagi, Martin Corry, Neil Back, Darren Garforth, Harry Ellis, and Darren Grewcock were just some of the names joining in.
The group will wound their way around the near-60-mile route, camping at Tuilagi-Laird Park for the launch night of Freddie Tuilagi’s inaugural rugby festival. For those who survived the night there was a game of over-40s rugby the next morning, followed by the return ride back to Hinckley Rugby
The driving force behind the the event was Paul Williams, affectionately known as ‘Mad Dog’ for his uncompromising playing style.
Paul, 58, has helped raise more than £500,000 for good causes through ‘Gravity Fundraiser’ events, held in conjunction with friends including Tigers old boys Dean Richards, Harry Roberts, John Duggan, and Neil Fletcher. These events have been instrumental in assisting numerous local charities and families with disabled children in and around the Leicestershire area.
Sadly, however, on Christmas Eve 2021, Paul was diagnosed with cancer of his mouth. He has since had a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, arranged by the oncology department at Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI). After six gruelling weeks, with sores and blisters affecting his eating and breathing, he finished his course of treatment, and in true Mad Dog style, not once has he moaned about it.
Instead, he and his fellow Gravity Fundraisers have used their many connections within the rugby fraternity to set about raising the money which will helped the LRI continue to provide an incredible level of service, dealing with cancer and saving lives.
Paul said: “One of the great things about rugby is how people stick together and help those who need it.
“When word began to get out about us doing this ride, we had calls from all sorts of people wanting to help or take part, and that’s been really pleasing. Other local rugby clubs also got involved, we had several Leicester Tigers greats helping to raise the profile and it was a lot of fun.
“Some of the lads were getting some sneaky early training in, but it was all for a great cause. The team at the LRI were incredible in helping me get through my cancer treatment, and we just want to help them so other patients and families can benefit from the same amazing level of care that I’ve had.
“We were looking for around 100 riders, and people registered through our website as well as donating through our Just Giving page.
Explaining the origins of the idea, he added: “We’ve staged these charity events over the last 20 years, although for various reasons it had been a little while since we’d all been able to do one. Just before Christmas I had the shock of my cancer diagnosis, and around the same time I had some photos pop into my Facebook memories from one of the previous rides we’d done together.
“At the time I was just thinking about a small ride to help the oncology department who had been so good with my own treatment – maybe 10 or so of us doing a little local one – but through speaking to the likes of Dean and Harry Roberts, they just said if we’re going to do it, let’s go big!
“We began putting some ideas together, and with me being a former chairman of Hinckley Rugby Club we decided to start and end the ride there. It just so happens that Freddie Tuilagi had a rugby festival happening that weekend at Tuilagi-Laird Park, and Freddie is a good mate of ours, so it all slotted into place in terms of camping at the festival, holding a bit of a game there and then setting off for the return ride to Hinckley Rugby Club.”
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