‘The Longest Try’: Rallying the Rugby Community to Support Motor Neurone Disease
An innovative fundraising initiative ‘The Longest Try’ aimed at raising awareness and funds for motor neurone disease, by visiting over 100 rugby union clubs and traveling over 1,700 miles from July 24th-August 12th was launched last month.
‘The Longest Try’ project lead, Sue Dorrington is aiming to score a try on the hallowed turf at Twickenham before England play Wales on August 12th in a World Cup warm up match.
Rugby clubs from around England, Wales and Scotland, including, Bracknell, Gloucester, Wasps, Hereford and Melrose have already signed up but more clubs are urgently needed.
MND has already claimed the lives of thousands including the inspirational Doddie Weir OBE. Gloucester player Ed Slater was recently diagnosed and former England and Wasps front row star, Paul Rendall a member of the 1991 and 1992 Grand Slam Winning England team is someone who has been living with the disease since 2021.
Paul Rendall said “I’m living with MND and by supporting this great cause you can help raise vital funds. ‘The Longest Try’ can feel a lot shorter, the more people that take part. Help get this event over the line. Get involved.”
The baton for raising funds and awareness of MND via rugby union and league from Doddie Weir has been picked up very successfully in recent times by rugby league legend and England Rugby Union Assistant Coach, Kevin Sinfield through his multiple marathons, which have been completed in part as a tribute to his good friend and ex-Leeds Rhino’s teammate Rob Burrow.
Sue Dorrington, ex England International has now picked the baton up with this latest initiative, ‘The Longest Try’ and said “It’s always a challenge to find new ideas to help with raising awareness and fundraising. It’s essential that the brilliant momentum created by Doddie and Kevin continues so that we can help the thousands of people who live with, or are affected by MND now and in the future.
“I’m asking for as many rugby clubs to sign up as possible to help keep that momentum going.
“Each rugby club just needs to register and commit to a minimum of 15 runners running a mile each as we travel between rugby clubs.”*
Former England Captain Will Carling OBE recently joined the ‘The Longest Try’ pool of supporters and said “Please get out there and sign up for ‘The Longest Try’ and do something that really will make you proud. Help the MND cause. There are some great people sadly, are now living with MND. We’d all be incredibly proud of you if you could go out there and make a difference. Enjoy.”
England International, Jonathan Webb said “Please sign up for the ‘The Longest Try’. This is one of the best events ever. You’ll have great fun, run a bit and raise money and you’ll end up with a fantastic achievement under your belt.”
Linda Allen, Director of Fundraising at the MND Association said “The rugby community is a force to be reckoned with and it is invaluable to have them standing with us as we work together to defeat this devasting disease. MND is incredibly cruel and robs people of the ability to walk, talk, eat, and ultimately breathe. Unfortunately, there is no cure and no effective treatment but there is work gathering in laboratories and clinics across the world to change that. As well as investing millions of pounds into this vital research the MND Association improves care for people affected by MND and campaigns on their behalf so their needs and those of everyone who cares for them are recognised and addressed by wider society. We’re so grateful to every club that signs up for ‘The Longest Try’ and we can’t wait to cheer everyone on at the kick-off and to touchdown at Twickenham.”
Find out more about The Longest Try by clicking here.
