Cyclists pedal their way from Cardiff to Richmond in Head for Change’s latest challenge as they ‘Head for Twickenham’

As the world of rugby looks forward to the annual Six Nations Championship, a group of cyclists, many of who took part in the Head for Edinburgh and massive Head for Lyon challenges previously, will take to their bikes again to cycle from Cardiff to Richmond to raise vital funds and awareness for the charity that seek positive and practical solutions to brain injury in rugby and football.

Cyclists may find the distance less arduous than what they have previously encountered, however, the February weather in the UK might prove otherwise!

The cyclists will make their way from Principality Stadium in Cardiff, cycling over 146 miles over two days and aim to arrive at the home to London Welsh RFC at Old Deer Park in Richmond on Friday, 9th February 2024, in time to watch the always epic match of England v Wales on Saturday, 10th February 2024 at London Welsh RFC.

They will not be alone because as well as Head for Change founder Alix Popham (Newport, Leeds, Llanelli Scarlets, Brive and Wales), they will be joined on the challenge by rugby legends:

• Denis Betts (Wigan, England and Great Britain)
• Ben Breeze (Bristol, Newport and Exeter Chiefs)
• Kevin Brown (Wigan and England)
• Tony Copsey (Llanelli and Wales)
• Cliff Eccles (Rochdale Hornets, Salford City Reds, Swinton Lions, Widnes Vikings and Ireland)
• Dafydd James (Pontypridd, Bridgend, Llanelli, Wales and British Lions)
• Ben Pegna (Saracens)
• Mark Robinson (Northampton and New Zealand)

A number of partners and sponsors are also doing their bit to support this challenge and thanks goes to: Orbis, Melin Consultants and We Cycle.

Of this latest challenge, Alix Popham, Co-founder, said:

“We are fast establishing that cycling is something that many people enjoy and find a great outlet so Head for Twickenham seems to be a great way to come together as a family and ride from The Principality Stadium in Cardiff to London Welsh in Richmond.

What is even better is that many riders from the last two cycling challenges in which we headed to Edinburgh and Lyon have decided to join us again – this time to get us to the Six Nations Round 2 match where England and Wales come together.”

Trustee, Warwick Clews, added:

“As a relatively new Trustee of Head for Change, I am really excited about joining the group having seen the excellent work, as an outsider, that the charity does for those affected by traumatic brain injury through rugby and football.”

Head for Change is a charitable foundation, pioneering positive change for brain health in sport and supporting ex-players who are affected by neurodegenerative disease as a result of their professional sporting career in rugby and football.

Alix retired from rugby in 2011 and in April 2020 was diagnosed with probable CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) and early onset dementia as a result of traumatic brain injury suffered in his rugby career and is now a leading light in the campaign to increase the awareness of the disease and bring positive change to the game he loves.

This increasing awareness is enlightening the various sports bodies to the issues and the need to address the problem, not only for those currently suffering but as a means of educating current and future players for best practice in contact sports.

Alix Popham continued:

“With your support, we are fundraising for much needed research in the prevention and cure for early onset dementia and neurogenerative disease in the sports we love.

The money raised is for care and support, education and independent research for potential treatments in rugby and football and we are grateful to those who choose to be part of the solution.”

This challenge will be no easy feat with the British weather not at its most reliable at this time of year.

It is non-professional athletes that make up the majority of this group and have been training for months so they can be as prepared as they can be for the distance that will be covered.

The charity’s goal remains to create a safe space for our sporting heroes, past, present and future that suffer from sports-related brain injuries and connect with the best brains in science and research to make positive change.

To provide your support, please visit the Head for Twickenham JustGiving page.