Dedicated dads cycle 101 miles for girls’ rugby team

A CYCLING team, made up of dads and the coach of Melksham Fawns under 12s rugby team, cycled 101 miles from Melksham to Cardiff recently, raising £1,854 for the club. 

The challenge took place on Saturday 4th November with the five-strong team cycling to the Welsh city, the day before the Fawns played Cardiff in an away game.  

Leaving at 8.30am, they cycled for 12 hours with a support vehicle in tow and taking three stops along the way in Westonbirt, Chepstow and Cwmbran before arriving in Cardiff at 7.30pm.  

Support vehicle driver Joe McCann, said the cycling team even stopped to help a woman change her car tyre and she then donated £40 to the cause. 

“The journey was undeniably one of the most challenging, yet gratifying experiences I’ve ever undertaken,” says one dad and cycling team member, Steven Nicholls. “Despite the relentless cold, treacherous hills and ceaseless rain, (I mean, it was Wales) we embarked as a team and emerged as a team. It was the support we provided one another that carried us through.” 

The team were fundraising to help the Melksham Fawns raise money for the club to cover the cost of transport to away matches, to purchase equipment and uniforms, to help keep the sport affordable for low-income families and to cover the cost of local referees and officials. 

As part of their fundraising efforts, the Melksham Fawns recently held a fundraising day outside of Asda, where they had fundraising buckets and supported the cycling team who were training on stationary bikes to boost funds. 

“While our achievement shines brightly, it is somewhat eclipsed by the incredible generosity displayed in the donations for our cause, the Melksham Fawns. Those amazing girls certainly deserve all the support we can muster, although perhaps not through more bike riding!” added Steven. 

Another dad and member of the cycle team, Gareth Hughes said, “We may have been friends, we now have a bond that is unconditional love and support for each other!”