Mike Tindall and his rugby mates have set off on a charity bike ride to raise money for their fellow former rugby player Ed Slater, who has Motor Neuron Disease (MND). Fellow rugby legend Martin Johnson CBE will go head-to-head against Mike Tindall in a team cycle race. They are cycling approximately 45 miles from their respective home stadiums to Villa Park, where a Slater Cup rugby match is set to be played today. Mike Tindall will be racing from Gloucester's Kingsholm and Martin Johnson will set off from Leicester's Welford Road.
The Slater Cup was created in honour of former Gloucester and Leicester Tigers player Ed Slater following his diagnosis with MND in July 2022. It is contested between Ed Slater's two former teams every season, and this year marks the first time it will be played outside of a rugby ground when roughly 40,000 fans travel to Aston Villa's home ground later today. Both teams are raising money for the 4ED Foundation, a charity set up by Ed Slater following his diagnosis to support people affected by MND with much needed support, including adaptations to homes, days out for carers and mental health support. So far the 4ED foundation have raised £28,531 of their £100,000 goal.
MND is a horrible disease and it's been really difficult to witness how it's impacted Ed and his family, as well as others in the rugby community. What has been very special to see is how the community has united through it all, most recently with the news about my good friend and former teammate, Lewis. It will be a privilege to represent both Leicester Tigers and the wider rugby community as part of The Race to The Slater Cup next year.
Mike Tindall has taken to social media to issue a public message of support for former England rugby teammate Andy Long, as he takes on one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet. Andy Long, who also played alongside Mike Tindall for six years at Bath Rugby, is aiming to complete the Marathon des Sables this month, hoping to raise £75,000 for motor neurone disease (MND) charity Challenging MND.
Both Gloucester and Leicester mean a huge amount to me and I'm forever grateful to the support they've shown me and my family, particularly over the past three years. While my name is in the title of The Slater Cup, it's about so much more than me; it's about raising awareness of this cruel disease and funds to support people impacted by it. I'm sure with the weight of Tinds, Johnno and others, we can make a big difference to the MND community.