Stafford Rugby Club is supporting the Kidney Unit at North Staffs Hospital as their chosen charity for fundraising this season. The money will be used by the Unit for many different things, this includes renovating the family room and buying new machinery for patients to use at home and on the ward. Fundraising events have seen members of the club giving up alcohol during the month of March, raffles, quizzes and members running the Stafford half marathon. The main fundraising event started on 19th July 2019 and became known as the Tour de Shire.

The tour involved a dedicated number of club members, along with assorted friends, cycling from their base of Stafford Rugby Club to every other rugby club in Staffordshire and a couple of other venues on the way, totalling an amazing 270 miles over three days. The gruelling endurance test has seen the cycling rugby peloton visit:

Barton under Needwood RUFC, Bloxwich RUFC, Burntwood RUFC, Burton RUFC, Cameron Lodge, Cannock RUFC, Eccleshall RUFC, Essington RUFC, HMP Featherstone, Gnosall RUFC, Handsworth RUFC, Leek RUFC, Lichfield RUFC, Linley & Kidsgrove RUFC, Longton RUFC, Market Drayton RUFC, National Memorial Arboretum, Newcastle RUFC, North Staffs Kidney Unit, Rugeley RUFC, St Leonards RUFC, Stoke on Trent RUFC, Stone RUFC, Tamworth RUFC, Trentham RUFC, Uttoxeter RUFC, Walsall RUFC, Wednesbury RUFC, Wheaton Aston & Penkridge RUFC, Whittington RUFC, Willenhall RUFC and Wolverhampton RUFC.

A stunning round tour of 31 venues across Staffordshire and one just across the border. The hospitality received at every club has been excellent and massive thanks goes out for all of the hot food, cakes and drinks which have kept the fundraisers going.

Huge respect must be given to every cyclist who put their bodies on the line fundraising for the kidney unit. The conditions at time were testing but everyone pulled through completing part or all of the course. The cycling fundraisers are:

Ali Oxley; Anne Thompson; Barry Dean; Ben Richards; Bruce McCulloch; Callum Jones; Cheryl Oxley; Chris Campbell; Darren Mottershead; Dave Austen; Dave Rock; Dave Talbot; Dave Wain; Dave Wareham; Jake Cawkwell; June Cooke; Keith Richards; Leyla Lawrence; Louise Stadler; Matt Smith; Matt Walklate; Nic Cassa; Pat Cawkwell; Paul Pooley; Pete Cooke; Pete Morrison; Russell Reardon; Scott Raine; Sean Dawson; Simon Davies; Steve Rowland; Stuart Black; Tim Woolman; Tom Williams; Will Richards.

The Tour de Shire has raised a staggering £9,383.43 to date, but there is always room for more. If you would like to support the kidney unit then you can donate at:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=JenniferWalklate&pageUrl=1&fbclid=IwAR3x9wZTvdfbxIy9Ad9fQIrrTsbZCQn1-0A2ISTwQ33XScvh22MKuua7-Po