Rugby's Ben Young's welcomes inspiring fundraiser Will Findlay's new challenge
United Kingdom
Leicester Tigers' strength and conditioning coach, Will Findlay, aims to raise awareness of blood cancer by taking on another monster challenge. The Premiership rugby coach will run a mammoth 50km a day for 5 days in 5 locations.
Dubbed the 50in5, Findlay also wants members of the public to join him. He’s attempting to get 500 people signed up to run 10km a day for 5 days. That is one person for every child that gets diagnosed with blood cancer each year.
The 50in5 challenge will start on March 25th, at Llandovery College in Wales, where his dad is the headteacher. He will then head to Loughborough University, North Norfolk, Leicester, and finish up in Birmingham, coinciding with the start of Blood Cancer UK’s Walk of Light Event at Cannon Hill Park.
I met many inspirational people and it has motivated me to do more for the 500 children who are diagnosed every year.”
- Will Findlay
The BBC will be showcasing Will's challenge, and ahead of his appearance on the channel, Will said:
“When my friend, the ex-England and Leicester Tigers player Tom Youngs lost his wife, Tiff, to blood cancer, I challenged myself to raise awareness of the condition and support the family at a difficult time. During my last challenge in memory of Tiff in 2022,
In 2023 Will challenged himself to run 250km in 50 hours, completing a 5km loop every hour, on the hour, for 50 hours.
On this challenge he met Alyssa, a Blood Cancer UK supporter, who also appeared on BBC Breakfast, cheering on Will as he completed his challenge. Alyssa was the first person to receive a new, cutting-edge blood cancer treatment which saved her life.
Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, but the most common cancer among children. Despite this awareness of the condition is severely low, with many people unaware that leukaemia, myeloma, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms are all forms of blood cancer.
The physicality of the challenges Will commits to is immense. I’m sure I speak for everyone in the blood cancer community when I say I’ll be following Will’s journey closely and look forward to seeing him finish in style."
- Matthew White, Blood Cancer UK's director of engagement
Speaking about preparing for his challenge Will Findlay said:
“Preparing for the challenge is all-encompassing at the moment, on top of my Tiger’s work and rugby commitments, but I can’t complain. I’m doing it for those amazing people going through their own battle, something they don’t deserve. We’ve already received some great support from people in the area but we want to raise as much as possible for people living with blood cancer in the UK, so all the support we can get is needed to make a difference.
“You can donate to my JustGiving page, share my challenge with your friends and family and if you’re local to one of the locations over the week come and cheer me on, or run alongside me. Blood Cancer UK will be following my challenge, so make sure you’re following them on social media to see how I’m getting on. Hopefully I’ll see you with me!"!
Matthew White, wished Will when:
“Will’s commitment to challenging himself and going above and beyond to raise awareness of blood cancers is inspiring. The physicality of the challenges he commits to is immense. I’m sure I speak for everyone in the blood cancer community when I say I’ll be following Will’s journey closely and look forward to seeing him finish in style ahead of our Walk of Light in Birmingham. Will’s support will help us raise much needed money that helps fund research for people affected by blood cancer.”
Will on receiving great support
Speaking about preparing for his challenge Will Findlay said:
“Preparing for the challenge is all-encompassing at the moment, on top of my Tiger’s work and rugby commitments, but I can’t complain. I’m doing it for those amazing people going through their own battle, something they don’t deserve. We’ve already received some great support from people in the area but we want to raise as much as possible for people living with blood cancer in the UK, so all the support we can get is needed to make a difference.
“You can donate to my JustGiving page, share my challenge with your friends and family and if you’re local to one of the locations over the week come and cheer me on, or run alongside me. Blood Cancer UK will be following my challenge, so make sure you’re following them on social media to see how I’m getting on. Hopefully I’ll see you with me!"!
How to get involved!
You can donate to Will’s challenge here! https://www.justgiving.com/team/will-findlay-500-50-in-5
Fancy joining Blood Cancer UK at the Walk of Light? Sign up here!
Want to get involved in Will's challenge? To sign up to Wills 50in5 challenge you can register your interest using this link that takes you to an external page, which is not managed by Blood Cancer UK.
