Oakmeadians RFC Ladies endured a 12 hour, non-stop, bike ride to raise funds to purchase three defibrillators for local rugby clubs. With a 27 woman team they clocked up an impressive 400 miles on Saturday 25 April.
The girls have been fundraising for the last four weeks and they rounded off another week of bucket rattling with a mega ride on the balcony at Oaks in Meyrick Park, Bournemouth during the last league game of the season. Starting at 6am on Saturday they cycled into victory raising £2,800 which is enough to purchase an initial three defibrillators, which they will donate to Oakmeadians RFC, Lytchett Minster RFC and East Dorset RFC.
The Ladies were grateful to have the support of local company, Fitness First, who not only loaned the girls the static bikes but they also donated two brand new defibrillators to the project enabling the ladies to add a further two clubs who will benefit from this scheme. Additional thanks go to staff at Sunseeker International who raised £200 within the company when Oaks Ladies Chairperson, Natalie Jeffery, visited the factory dressed as a fairy in rugby kit.
In January this year a popular local rugby union referee suffered a heart attack whilst refereeing a game. If it were not for the brave acts of the players on the pitch and the availability of a defibrillator he may have lost his life. The Oaks Ladies team decided that their club should have one as to protect their visitors, players and members.
Samantha Briggs, fundraising coordinator commented: “Our club and our members are a family and it was important to us that we raised the funds to keep them safe in times of crisis” She added “Why stop at one defibrillator? Rugby is about ‘community’ and we wanted to raise enough money to get defibrillators for other local clubs in our area. We are so glad that we have achieved this amazing goal with the help of our so many generous people.”
