Tackling the Spine of Britain
Rugby fan Mark Laws to complete 450 mile challenge for Spinal Research
Lifelong rugby player, and sports professional Mark Laws from Norfolk will be completing a 450 mile route up the “Spine of Britain” to raise money for life changing research into paralysis. Retiring from senior rugby after 23 years, Mark will complete over 70 miles a day running, cycling and hand cycling for Spinal Research.
Mark will begin his challenge at the England versus France Six Nations rugby fixture-Saturday 11th March at Twickenham. His route will take him through some of the most iconic rugby locations in the UK, finishing at Murrayfield the 18th of March.
Uniting the Rugby Family!
Mark is planning to visit a number of famous rugby venues through the challenge including Rugby School, Leicester Tigers and Leeds Rhinos. He will also be supported by some faces from the Rugby Family, including Rugby Union World Cup Winner, World Record Breaker and Spinal Research Patron
Jason Leonard OBE:
“Mark is taking on an epic challenge, and I’m calling on the whole Rugby Family to get behind him. Together our support can help Spinal Research progress projects that have the potential to change the lives of those living with paralysis. The biggest barrier now is funding.”
Donate the price of a pint… Support Mark’s Challenge!
A challenge to change lives
A high-performance fitness coach, Mark is using his retirement from the game as a motivation to help change the future for people living with spinal cord injury. This includes Max Levene, injured in a rugby match in 2009 aged 17. Read Max’s story here.
Preparation and investigation
As part of the preparation for his journey, Mark will be finding out more about what it means to live with a spinal cord injury, as he explains:
“Over the last few months I’ve learnt so much about how your life can change in an instant from a spinal cord injury. As part of my preparation I’m experiencing first-hand what it means to live using a wheelchair, including learning to hand cycle and play wheelchair rugby.
Science is making great progress, and every penny I raise is critical to help Spinal Research help transform promising research into real, game-changing treatments.”, he added.
One for the road?
You can find out more and follow Mark as he prepares for his challenge through the following hashtag #TacklingBritain
Mark is asking the Rugby Family to donate the price of a pint as he takes on his challenge. You can do that in the following ways: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tacklingbritain
Help support the campaign texting RUGBY plus the amount you wish to donate to 70490.
(Texts cost one standard rate message plus the amount you want to donate (default value is £5)
www.spinal-research.org
www.spinal-research.org/rugby
Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research to develop life changing treatments for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
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Twitter:@spinalresearch
Facebook: spinalresearch
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