Cycling challenge from Lymm to Redruth by bike at 75!

TO mark his 75th birthday veteran cyclist Paul Foulkes is determined to raise funds for Lymm Rugby Club by cycling 580k (360 miles) in 5 days, from Lymm to Redruth.

He has been a member, and latterly a Vice President and Lymm Panto performer, of Lymm RFC, a registered charity, for over 58 years.

Paul is a keen cyclist and played rugby from age 17, for the Colts until his retirement from the Vets at the age of 51.
He is now embarking on his cycling challenge in protest at a decision by the Rugby Football union to move the club from National 2 North to National 2 West – adding £50,000 to travelling costs.
The RFU removed Lymm RFC, an amateur club that does not pay players, from National 2 North, when they played teams from the North West and Yorkshire, and finished third, their highest position ever.
The team has been moved sideward into the league entitled National 2 West, involving trips to far-flung clubs such as Exeter in Devon, and Camborne and Redruth in Cornwall.

The financial repercussions of these very long trips sit heavily on the rugby club and present a real burden, without significant assistance from the governing body.
Paul takes up the story: “I decided I would like to diffuse my annoyance and frustration by turning this into a personal challenge, and cycle the whole distance from Lymm Rugby Club in Cheshire to Redruth Rugby Club in Cornwall.
“I hope to arrive in time for the first fixture ever between these two sides on Saturday 20 September 2025.
“As well as being a personal challenge I am hoping people will get behind this gesture of personal defiance, against what I believe is a perverse decision.
“I am hoping the people of Cheshire, and the whole rugby community, will help raise as much as possible for the registered charity that is Lymm Rugby Club, funding not only the First Team journeys but also the ongoing development of this brilliant and outstanding, community-based rugby club,” he concluded.
This challenge has been entitled Lymm to Redruth at 75, or L2R@75
If you would like to support Paul on his epic journey please visit https://www.justgiving.com/charity/lymmrugby and help him reach his target of £10k.