Charity ride marks centenary of the Somme
Oxford United will be joining the R2R team as they commemorate the centenary of the battle of the Somme and the 70th Anniversary of the formation of Tywhitt House Leatherhead, which is HQ for the nation’s Combat Stress Centre.
The R2R (Run 2 Recovery) team, in partnership with Oxford United, will complete a road cycle of the Western Front as of 1914 and will follow major battles that took place within the Ox and Bucks Regimental history of the Somme. Chairman Darryl Eales and members of the backroom team at the U's will be riding part of thee 787 mile route which starts in Belfort, and travels to Dunkirk taking in the Thiepval memorial where members of Oxford United and the Community Trust will pay respects by burying a time capsule. The final leg of the ride will see the team arrive at the Kassam Stadium to hand over the matchball at a pre-season game at the start of next season.
All proceeds raised from the ride will be split between Combat Stress and the Community Trust.The riders will be wearing specially designed colours incorporating the Oxford United badge: these are available RIGHT HERE
R2R was formed to raise funds and awareness for combat stress. R2R was founded by WO2 Danny Hirst when one of his good friends took his life whilst battling with PTSD on his own. Upon this tragic news Danny knew something had to be done so he decided to raise funds to help combat stress by completing extreme physical challenges.
R2R has been running for over 3 years now and has completed a number of challenges. These include a gruelling Regimental 24 hour run around the regimental parade square in Hohne Garrison Germany which raised over £3000, a tough three mile swim in sub zero temperatures, and last year a 424 mile run in 10 days taking in all three combat stress centres, starting in Leatherhead and finishing in Ayr.
Since this challenge all of the team have been posted to different locations but make time to talk to ex service personnel to tell them they are still very much part of the military community and that they don’t have to suffer alone.
You can find out more on Facebook at R2R - Run 2 Recovery, or on You Tube (R2R Run 2 Recovery).
The precise routes can be found at www.strava.com , users need to register (which is free) and follow Paul Ingham.