Wakefield Trinity Wildcats fans Matt Wood and Matthew Spiers are taking on an enormous challenge inspired by former St Helens, Hull FC and Wakefield Wildcats legend Steve Prescott MBE. The duo leave from the Wakefield Wildcats ground on Wednesday 6th of July covering around 900 miles in 10 days arriving at Perpignan Friday 15th of July ready to watch Wakefield take on Catalan Dragons on Saturday 16th of July.
The challenge is self funded and all money raised will go to the Steve Prescott Foundation.
Matthew Wood takes up his story:-
My colleagues call me Matt, My Family and friends call me Matthew or Woodsy! Why am I taking on a 900 plus mile bike ride over 10 days? Well, having been involved in sports from a young age, and rugby league being one of them, I thought why not bike from my home Super League club Wakefield Wildcats in West Yorkshire to one in a sunnier destination, Catalan Dragons. I thought to myself I couldn’t bike all that way without raising money for a great cause and again keeping it within in Rugby League there is no better fitting charity than the Steve Prescott Foundation.
The 900 mile ride moving through the centre of England and the full length of France, touching on the Pyrenees Mountains, is a far cry from my daily role working in the IT industry for the Veterinary sector. The endurance and distance will push me to my limits and see high and low days, much like watching the Wildcats over recent years on their rollercoaster ride on and off the field!
After seeing the Spectrum Kilimanjaro Challenge on the news I was inspired by the dedication of those taking part and the cause they were climbing for. From that point, I wanted to set myself a challenge raising sponsorship to further assist the fantastic work the SPF does every day for the Rugby community.
Matt Spears says, ‘Unlike the other Matt I can't claim to be a particularly sporty type. I didn't even own a bike until the brains behind this latest scheme suggest we cycle to Bruges last year to raise money for the RNRMC. But I am not one to turn down a challenge whether that be walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks or summiting Kilimanjaro for Oxfam. So when Matt introduced me to the Steve Prescott Foundation and the inspirational story of the man behind it I knew I had get on board with the cycle and raise funds to help those who don't get to choose the challenge they face.’
06.07.2016 - Wakefield to Nuneaton
07.07.2016 - Nuneaton to Newbury
08.07.2016 - Brittany ferries night crossing
09.07.2016 - Ouistreham to Angers - Longest day!
10.07.2016 - Angers to Niort
11.07.2016 - Niort to Perigueux
12.07.2016 - Perigueux to Agen
13.07.2016 - Agen to Toulouse
14.07.2016 - Toulouse to Carcassonne
15.07.2016 - Carcassonne - Perpignan
We hope that all fans of Rugby League will get behind the two Matts for their immense challenge. It’s a long hard road ahead of them. They already have the support of several Super League clubs and players.
You can donate to Matt and Matt’s Virgin Money Giving page: www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/WildcatsDragonscycle