A group of players, coaches and staff from Hamilton Rugby Club will undergo a gruelling charity challenge in memory of a friend who died of cancer last year.
‘Arran for Aaron’ is in tribute to Aaron Beale, who passed away aged 27, just six weeks after being diagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer.
It involves a 43-mile cycle and half-marathon, a total of 57 miles, on Saturday, September 18, on the Scottish island, factoring in a 2730ft elevation.
The challenge has taken off; a JustGiving page raised £3110 of a £1000 target in 24 hours, with proceeds going to Neuroendocrine Cancer UK.
Hamilton assistant manager Tony Malley says it has been an emotional couple of days since they launched the challenge, and he has been blown away by the levels of support shown.
Tony said: “We never thought we would get that amount of support, straight off the bat – in less than 24 hours we had raised £2600, and we’re obviously quite delighted with that.
“It makes it real, we have to do it now!
“We had been planning this since the start of the year but we were trying to get a time when restrictions would be lifted.
“We’re quite delighted that we can now just continue the hard yards and get it done.
“We have all been training, but there was always that little bit of doubt that restrictions might not have been lifted, but they have, so we’re ready to go.”
It will be an emotional time for the club when they undertake the challenge in honour of a man who was a close personal friend to many.
Tony added: “We’re overwhelmed with the amount of support we’ve had so far. Aaron was a very popular guy, well known within the rugby club, but it’s a close friendship group as well, there are 15 of us, and he was the 16th.
“It’s a huge loss, we all miss him greatly.
“We’re raising money for Neuroendocrine Cancer UK; that was the cancer he was diagnosed with, and six weeks after he was diagnosed, he was gone.
“It has motivated us to get on with this and get there. It makes us all determined to do it, but I think we’re all looking forward to that first beer when we cross the finishing line – I know I am!
“We’re all doing different stages of it, depending on our start fitness levels and size.
“I’m not a small guy, I’m not really built for these long miles, but I’ve been putting hard work in to drop some kilos, get fitter and all the boys are the same.”
If you would like to donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/arranforaaron
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