4Ed campaign launches with next week's Ed Slater charity cycle
Ed Slater is to embark on a 350-mile charity cycle from Kingsholm to Welford Road Mattioli Woods and back via a number of other rugby ground stops just weeks after it was revealed that the 34-year-old Gloucester lock had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND), bringing a sudden end to his distinguished rugby career.
It was July 21 when the forward’s Gallagher Premiership club revealed the shock diagnosis. “Gloucester Rugby is deeply pained to announce that Ed Slater has been diagnosed with MND. Following six months of testing, Ed’s diagnosis was confirmed last week and, as a result, with the support of his family, friends and Gloucester, he has made the difficult decision to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.”
Slater took to social media the following day to thank people for their supportive reaction to the dreadful news. “It gives me and my family a huge amount of strength in a time of sadness for us. I will meet this challenge head-on. Ultimately I can’t win but I will fight with everything. Hope is not lost.”
4Ed, a fund-raising and an MND awareness campaign, has now been set up and next Monday, August 8, will see Slater and a group of current and former rugby players cycling from his current club’s ground to Leicester, the club he was at from 2010 to 2017.
A statement read: “Following the announcement that Ed has been diagnosed with MND, Gloucester and the 34-year-old have set up the 4Ed campaign, which will initially work to raise awareness of Ed’s diagnosis and generate funds for his treatment and support of his young family.
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On Monday 8 August, @edslater and a group of former teammates, as well as friends and family, will set off on an epic 350+ cycle to raise funds and awareness for MND and the newly launched 4Ed campaign. ?
Find out more ?#4Ed
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) August 3, 2022
“The 4Ed campaign will start with a 350-mile cycle from Gloucester’s Kingsholm Stadium to Leicester’s Welford Road Mattioli Woods, where the lock spent seven years – two as captain. After an overnight stay, the group will head off to Milton Keynes, Ed’s hometown, to visit his first club, Milton Keynes RFC. Following a refuel, the cyclists will then set off for Twickenham Stadium, arriving on August 9 before heading back to Gloucester on Wednesday, August 10.
“Ed will be joined by Lewis Ludow, Fraser Balmain and Billy Twelvetrees, as well as former Gloucester players Alex Brown, Charlie Sharples and Jim Hamilton. Ed’s close friend, Joe Gorman, as well as his brother Andy Slater will also join the group alongside Tommy Turner from Gloucester and former Nottingham RFC teammate Sam Raven.
“Supporters are encouraged to come and cheer the riders off as they depart Kingsholm on Monday from 7.30am. Over the course of the 2022/23 season, several other events will take place.
“Supporters wishing to host their own events to raise funds for the 4Ed campaign can continue to do so via the JustGiving page, which has been set a new milestone of £444,000. A fundraising pack will be made available over the coming weeks with more information on how to get involved.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments