Story
My name is Emma Seal. My husband, Mark Seal, had an accident in 2013 playing rugby league which resulted in a broken & dislocated neck.
During his 12 month recovery we received support from the RFL Benevolent Fund. This fund was established in 2005 to raise funds to support payers whose lives are affected by serious injuries sustained playing rugby league. This can be in the form of providing rehabilitation beyond that offered by the state, or improving the quality of life when unfortunately, rehabilitation is no longer an option.
The charity explained that they have seen other families go through the same experience, they knew the type of difficulties we would come across throughout Marks rehabilitation, but that they would be there for emotional & financial support if we needed it. If it came to Mark being unable to go back to work, they would help with re-training or house modifications if further surgery was unsuccessful & his mobility changed. Luckily Mark retained mobility of his limbs & after surgery & 12 months rehabilitation has made a full recovery; but others aren't always as lucky.
As a thank you for their support, & for them to gain more publicity & funds to help others injured playing the sport they love, I along with a few of our friends will be cycling approximately 200 miles over 3 days to each of the UK Super League grounds.
We aim to raise a minimum of £2,000.
The route planned is:
• Thursday 14th June - Wigan to Salford. Aiming to finish for the Salford vs Widnes game at 19:45.
• Friday 15th June – Salford to Leeds. Aiming to finish for the Leeds vs St Helens game at 20:00.
• Saturday 16th June – Leeds to Hull FC. Aiming to finish for the Hull FC vs Wigan game at 17:00.
All donations are being made through a dedicated JustGiving page at:
We are welcoming any support we can get, whether it is joining us for a leg or a few miles, to cheer us on throughout the route, give us a pat on the back at the end of each day, or donating whatever you can afford in sponsorship, even your loose change from down the back of the sofa; it will all mean a huge amount to all taking part, but mostly to the individuals & families that you may never know who will benefit from the work of The RFL Benevolent Fund.
If you would like to offer corporate sponsorship or join in the event please comment below & one of the hosts will be in touch as soon as possible.
Thank you for taking the time to read about our challenge. Please share this event to raise as much awareness as possible & to keep updated with the progress of our training & fundraising.