Lawrence Dallaglio is embarking upon a 2,800km cycle through all of the RBS 6 Nations countries in a bid to raise over £1million for charity. The Dallaglio Cycle Slam, which commenced in Rome on 12th February, is taking place over the course of a month and will take in all of the international rugby stadia along the way, finishing in Edinburgh.
The proceeds from the gruelling trip will be split equally between Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation, which the former England Rugby star founded and whose beneficiaries include Cancer Research, DebRA, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Help for Heroes and the RPA Benevolent Fund.
Dallaglio said: “I’ve been training for this for a long time and it is a relief to finally get started. Since I hung up my international boots, I have had to watch the 6 nations wishing I was still on the pitch. This is my own new way of taking on Europe and I’m sure it will hurt just as much.”
Over two hundred and fifty other cyclists will join Dallaglio en route, including former footballers Lee Dixon and Les Ferdinand, who will both take part in the first leg, riding from Rome to San Remo. Former QPR, Newcastle and Tottenham legend Ferdinand said: “I commend everyone who is taking part and I hope people will support us as the money we raise can really make a difference.”
The route is split into five stages, each of which passing through an RBS 6 Nations country. From Rome and the Stadio Flaminio, the group will cycle through France to the Stade de France and then across the Channel to the home of English Rugby at Twickenham. They will then visit the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and Dublin’s Croke Park before heading to Murrayfield in time to watch England and Scotland battle over the Calcutta cup on 13th March.
This challenge is the latest in a long line of projects the Dallaglio Foundation has been working towards in its inaugural year. Launched after the passing of Lawrence’s mother Eileen, who lost her battle with cancer, the Dallaglio Foundation has already raised over £600,000 for Cancer Research UK.
Key dates:
12 February 2010 – depart from the Stadio Flaminio, Rome
22 February 2010 – arrive in Paris
26 February 2010 – Cycle through London and arrive at Twickenham
02 March 2010 – arrive in Cardiff
06 March 2010 – arrive in Dublin
08 March 2010 – arrive in Belfast
12 March 2010 – arrive in Edinburgh and final day of Dallaglio Cycle Slam
Visit www.dallagliocycleslam.com for more information on this Dallaglio's epic ride
To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/dallagliocycleslam
