Who are Tara and Jamie?

Tara and Jamie are both graded Rugby Football League (RFL)
Match Officials, who regularly referee at Academy level and National Conference
League and Touch Judge at Championship/League 1, while also acting as Super
League In-Goal Judges. In 2018, Jamie refereed 50 minutes of a Championship
fixture between Dewsbury and Batley when the original appointed referee picked
up an injury in the first half. Away from rugby, Jamie works as an
administrator for the delivery company Hermes in Warrington and Tara works at
Eccles Sixth Form College as a Sport Instructor. In addition, Tara also plays
Rugby League for St Helens who compete in the Women’s Super League and internationally
for England Women RL.

What are they doing? And why?

They are by no means regular cyclists and this is something
they started during the period of lockdown due to Covid-19. With Tara being
given a second-hand bike and Jamie lending his dads, they began going out for a
bike ride each weekend. This led to them riding further afield and due to
getting lost numerous times, building up their miles which gave them the idea
and inspired them to take on a challenge for charity.

Tara and Jamie are going to be cycling approximately 550km
over 5 days in July (exact dates to be confirmed) visiting 25 pro Rugby League
Clubs (Super League/Championship and League 1). They will be starting at Hull
KR and finishing at St Helens RLFC. The plan is to camp at different destinations
along the way however, where they are staying is still in the planning stages
and is subject to government guidelines and advice due to Covid-19.

Who are they raising money for and why?

Their aim is to raise money and support charities through
the current situation regarding Covid-19. The pandemic has had a severe impact
on many UK charities due to cancelled fundraising events leading to loss of
income.

Severn Hospice

https://www.severnhospice.org.uk/

Severn Hospice provides whole family specialist care and support for families and those living with life-limiting and incurable illness.

Severn Hospice is a charity very close to Jamie’s family’s
heart. His Auntie, Mel Humphreys, is currently living with stage 4 breast
cancer and has had treatment and support at the hospice over the past few years. Last year, Mel and a group of friends (including Jamie’s mum and sister) ran the Vitality 10km in London and raised over £11,000 for the hospice. Given recent events, the hospice are stretched with their funding as they try to deal with Covid-19.

Steve Prescott Foundation

https://www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk/

The Steve Prescott Foundation was set up by a totally inspirational man Steve Prescott MBE. In 2006 he was diagnosed with Pseudomyxoma Peritonei which is a terminal cancer & sought out to raise funds for The Christie Hospital and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund. The SPF changes the lives of so many people.

Obviously, Rugby League is something Tara and Jamie are both
passionate about and they were wanting to keep their challenge Rugby League related, giving something back to the sport. Steve Prescott MBE was a true Rugby League legend, you can read his story here:  https://www.steveprescottfoundation.co.uk/about-the-steve-prescott-foundation/history Steve sadly lost his life in November 2013 but
his legacy lives on through his own hard work setting up the Steve Prescott Foundation which raises money and supports other charities such as The Christie Hospital and The RFL Benevolent Fund. Tara and Jamie’s Cycle Challenge also reflects part of Steve’s journey as they are setting off from Hull and finishing in St Helens, where Steve started and finished his professional RL career.

Please find the links to donate below, Tara and Jamie thank
everyone for their support throughout!

 https://www.justgiving.com/team/tarajamierlcyclechallenge

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Follow the link and select to donate to either Severn Hospice or The Steve Prescott Foundation. Please could we ask that you donate to each charity equally as we want to split our funds between the two causes. ***