Foundation News
12/03/10 - Dallaglio Cycle Slam comes to an end
Press release from the Dallaglio Cycle Slam
Lawrence Dallaglio today completed the 3,000km Dallaglio Cycle Slam as he strives to raise £1m for Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation.
Dallaglio, accompanied by other celebrities including former footballers Lee Dixon, Ally McCoist and Les Ferdinand and ex-Scottish rugby players Gavin Hastings, Kenny Logan and Andy Nicol arrived at Murrayfield at midday today, one month after leaving the Stade Flaminio in Rome.
The team of cyclists rode through all of the RBS 6 Nations countries, taking in each of the international rugby stadia along the way. All net proceeds will be split equally between Sport Relief and the newly formed Dallaglio Foundation, whose beneficiaries include Cancer Research, DebRA, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Help for Heroes and the RPA Benevolent Fund.
Dallaglio, who founded the Dallaglio Foundation after the death of his mother in 2008, said: “It is fantastic to have reached the finish line. The Slam has been an epic journey and we are all elated to have reached the last stadium, Murrayfield.
"We have had fantastic support along the way with some great people joining us including the likes of Andrew Flintoff, Michael Vaughan and Will Greenwood. Everybody who has taken part deserves a beer tonight to celebrate, the cyclists have given so much effort and the support team has been brilliant every step of the way - I certainly couldn't have done this alone.
“We’re just short of our final target of £1m and need your help. We have done our bit, so I urge the public to do theirs’ and donate and help us reach the £1m for two deserving charities, Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation.
“I started up the Dallaglio Foundation when my mother lost her courageous battle with cancer and it is my memories of her that kept me going through the snow, wind, rain, punctures and falls.
“I will enjoy the Calcutta Cup tomorrow, hopefully ending in a win for England, and then rest my body - it feels like I have just finished playing a 6 Nations tournament.”
Kenny Logan, who won 70 caps for Scotland, put the Calcutta rivalry aside to support Lawrence and said: “I joined the Scottish section of the ride. It was hard cycling the 254km in three days, let alone completing the whole 3,000km like Lawrence has.
"He is a big man and the saddle isn't the most comfortable of places to be for a month. Please recognise the effort Lawrence and all the cyclists have put in for this challenge and donate.”
Former England footballer Lee Dixon, who cycled more than half the ride, said: “I managed to cycle much of the ride and I am exhausted. I felt pretty ill when we arrived back on English soil last week but I was delighted to rejoin the team again and support Lawrence over the finish line.
"I think Lawrence and all the other cyclists have done brilliantly to get this far, it has been a huge effort and they all deserve a rest.”
The cyclists left Rome on 12th February in snow, the first time the city has seen snow in more than 25 years. Dallaglio navigated the cyclists through north Italy and the South of France before arriving at the Stade de France on 22nd February.
The team of cyclists were delighted to hit familiar English roads two days later as they embarked on the leg to Twickenham where they were greeted by HRH Prince Harry before continuing onto the Millennium Stadium, Croke Park and finally Murrayfield today.
This challenge was the latest in a long line of projects that the Dallaglio Foundation has been working towards in its inaugural year. Launched following the passing of Lawrence’s mother Eileen, who lost her courageous battle with cancer in December 2008, the Dallaglio Foundation has already helped to raise over £600,000 for Cancer Research UK through its prestigious charity party, 8Rocks, which took place in November.
Visit www.dallagliocycleslam.com for more information about this epic ride and to sponsor Lawrence and the other riders.
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