College's rugby league programme taking on 26 Challenge for hospice

The 26 Challenge is being done by those teaching and studying on the Rugby Development Programme at Wigan and Leigh College in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice.

The fund-raising for Wigan and Leigh Hospice (WLH) is being led by former professional referee Warren Turley and involves those teaching and studyying on the Rugby Development Programme.

The idea is derived from the cancellation of the London Marathon because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Most of the challenges being undertaken, therefore, revolve around the number 26 as the marathon distance is 26.2 miles.

The physical pledges include walking, running, cycling and weightlifting, with participants mostly doing some kind of daily workout for 26 days or covering a distance of 26 kilometres or miles every day.

Warren, who has combined both ideas into his own task by cycling 26 miles per day for 26 days, said: “It’s been brilliant. They have been sending screen shots of their achievements every day.

“We’ve had videos of people doing the challenges in different situations. Some have been working out in their gardens, some in their rooms.

“The hospice is one of the charities the college supports and it’s something a lot of people are connected to. It makes an impact among our students because they might have had grandparents, possibly even parents, or other family members who have been there.”

The challenge has its own Just Giving page and more than £1,100 has been raised towards the target of £1,500.

Students on the Rugby Development Programme spend around five hours a week of their college timetable training and playing rugby league, with the tuition led by Warren and Leigh Centurions player Gregg McNally.

The boys’ team from the college also acts as the academy side for the Championship side based at the Leigh Sports Village (LSV).

The programme’s efforts have certainly been welcomed by the Hindley-based hospice, which has seen its fund-raising efforts take a major knock due to the public health emergency.

Kate Gaynor, the hospice’s head of income generation, said: “The students and staff have set themselves some very tough challenges and

we really appreciate their efforts.

"It is not easy fund-raising during lockdown, but they’ve come up with some ingenious ways of doing it.

“At the moment our shops are shut, we cannot collect lottery subscriptions door to door and our usual fundraising events are not going ahead – all of which has had a huge impact on our funds – so we need this kind of support more than ever.

“I’d like to thank each and every one of them and wish them the best of luck.”

To find out more or donate search for Wigan and Leigh College Rugby Team’s ‘26’ challenge at www.justgiving.com