Rugby club raises money after tour to Canada is cancelled

USW Lockdown Relief
Image courtesy of Chris Stonadge

CALDICOT Rugby Club raised £3839 after the tour to Canada was cancelled due to COVID-19. 

On March 13th 2020, Caldicot’s season came to an end due to the pandemic. This meant that the players were quick to realise that the tour they booked to Canada, which they had planned for two years, wasn’t going to happen. 

During the lockdown, many people were struggling mentally and physically due to being cooped up in their house for so long. 

Caldicot RFC came up with the idea as a team they would virtually travel the distance from Caldicot to Edmonton in Canada, which is where the tour was meant to take place, and back. They did this by riding a bike, running, walking and swimming.  

The distance is just under 8,300 miles (13,342 km) and they attempted the challenge in June. All activities were recorded on Strava. 

(1) Dragons on Twitter: “🐉COMMUNITY | Good luck @CaldicotRFC who are raising money for good causes with an epic challenge after having a tour to Canada cancelled 🇨🇦 Players & staff are planning on travelling the 8,300 miles to Canada in just one month – virtually of course! Pob lwc! #BringYourFire🔥” / Twitter

By doing this fundraiser, Caldicot raised £3839 which they gave half of the money to Caldicot Community Working Together (CCWT).  

Caldicot Community working together is a local group that was set up to support local people in the Caldicot community in this tough time during Covid-19.  

The other half of the funds will go to keeping the club afloat during what is to be one of their most challenging summers ever. 

The group of volunteers work with small local businesses to provide essentials such as meals for anyone in need such as the elderly and venerable. 

For ‘Lockdown Relief’ day, an event set up by University of South Wales 1st and 2nd year Sports Journalism students, Haydn Evans and I spoke to Caldicot RFC captain Shane Reece about the amazing efforts Caldicot put in to raise the amount of money they did. Have a watch below 

https://youtu.be/5yXnoUuDvFU