The best of luck to all the members of The Long Run team who are running all the way from Gloucester RFC to Northampton RFC in time for the Gallagher Premiership match at the Cinch Franklin's Gardens on Saturday 11th May.

The team will be running 78.6 miles - 3 marathons back- to-back in just 24 hours!

This event will support the charities that were close to the hearts of Scotland rugby legends Doddie Weir OBE and Tom Smith as well as Gloucester legend Ed Slater who retired from rugby when he was diagnosed with MND in July 2022 and subsequently set up the 4Ed campaign. 

The team left the Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester mid-morning on Friday 10th May and are running non-stop through the night until they reach Franklin's Gardens in time for kick-off when Northampton host Gloucester on Saturday 11th May, for one of the penultimate games of the Gallagher Premiership.

Their destination has special resonance for 40tude as our much-missed ambassador Tom played 174 matches for Northampton Saints, making his debut on 1st September 2001. Over the subsequent eight seasons his appetite for the action never diminished and neither did his popularity with the Saints' fans. His time at Franklin's Gardens included two Powergen Cup finals, a Heineken Cup semi-final and three Heineken Cup quarter finals. He remained at Northampton until his retirement from playing in 2009. Tom was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2019 and sadly passed away in April 2022 aged just 50.

The team will be carrying the match ball and will be joined along the way by other sporting legends. If you are anywhere close to their route please do go and give them a very big 40tude cheer! 

If you're further afield and would like to show them your support you can make a donation here

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