Rugby players to make record attempt in memory of Richard Thomas
May 7 2009 by Katy Simpson, The Journal
“It is quite bittersweet,” said Jenny, who was at the start line to wish the walkers good luck. “It is fantastic that after all this time, his friends still remember him and are doing something in his name.
“It was really emotional because it is quite humbling thinking that all these people have given up a week’s holiday to do this, and it’s going to be a hard slog at times,” said Jenny, a tennis coach who now lives in Hertfordshire.
Richard, who played football and tennis, went on to play rugby for his university team at Loughborough before he was diagnosed with leukaemia.
He fought the disease for 10 months, undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, before he died in July 1997.
The Richard Thomas Leukaemia Fund was set up to help fund research into the disease, and Richard’s friends and team-mates hope to raise £100,000 for the charity by completing the march.
Today’s leg of the relay will be particularly poignant for the walkers, as it should have been Richard’s 35th birthday.
Friend Mike Peters, 44, said: “Richard’s mum was there waving us off. We had a big hug and it got quite emotional.
“I think there will be a few drinks for those of us who aren’t walking today to remember Richard’s birthday.
“They gave us a good send-off in Newcastle, and Tom May knew what it was all about. He thought we were mad to consider walking it.”
The group will be sharing a large camper van, which sleeps seven people at a time, and take it in turns to walk for five hours at a time before resting in the van.
More than 50 of Richard’s friends and team-mates are taking part in the walk in total, and have been split up into five teams.
Mike said: “Wherever there are nice footpaths or straight stretches of road we will be passing the ball continuously. We’ve got to be more careful on the busy roads, and find safe places to stop and pass it. We will put fluorescent strips on the ball to see it at night.”
To sponsor the Rugby March, log on to the website at www.justgiving.com/rugbymarch2009
