MT3 - Awareness Ride July’25
MT3 were back hitting the road for a cause close to our hearts. Over 2 days and 200 miles, Maul Together took on an awareness ride in support of three incredible charities:
💙 Matt Hampson Foundation
💛 My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
❤️ 4ED
The plan was for the team to start at the Bridgnorth EDG, ride to the Matt Hampson Foundation, and then head to Kingsholm Stadium, home of Gloucester Rugby — uniting the rugby community every mile of the way.
This ride isn’t just about the distance — it’s about raising awareness for the inspirational work these charities do in the fight against life-changing injuries and MND.
Day 1 was supposed to be dry, but as soon as we set off from the EDG, the constant misty rain rolled in and quickly got us soaked. Still, it didn’t dampen the mood — the team was buzzing and ready for the challenge ahead.
The rolling hills of Shropshire and Staffordshire made for a tough, steady start — not the easiest terrain and definitely not the fastest — but motivation was high, as everyone was eager to reach our halfway stop at Burton RFC in time for the British & Irish Lions Test Match vs Australia.
The team arrived just in time for the Lions’ kick-off! What was meant to be a quick stop for stretching and hydration soon turned into a few well-earned pints of Guinness and a hearty fry-up. 🍳🍺
A huge thank you to Burton RFC for your warm hospitality — you were brilliant hosts and gave us the perfect mid-ride boost!
It was perfect timing when the rain clouds finally cleared as the team crossed into Leicestershire and rode up to the beautiful Matt Hampson Foundation Get Busy Living Centre.
We were greeted by our amazing support team and Gary from the charity, who had prepared a much-needed feast — plus a few well-earned beers to celebrate the ride! 🍻
After refuelling, the team took a walk around the Centre, and what an incredible place it is. The facilities and setting are truly inspiring — a space where beneficiaries can focus on their rehab, rebuild confidence, and be part of a community that embodies Matt’s “Get Busy Living” spirit.
Garry then took us on a full tour of the Get Busy Living Centre, showing us the incredible facilities and sharing exciting plans for future expansion.
Along the way, he told some truly moving stories about the people whose lives have been transformed by the Foundation’s work.
Many of us had heard the inspirational stories about Matt Hampson and the Centre before, but nothing compared to experiencing it in person. The facility completely embodies Matt’s values — it oozes courage, determination, and his unmistakable passion for life. ❤
Day 2 started in Leicester, with a few members of the team waking up seriously questioning whether a famous Leicester curry the night before had been the smartest preparation for another 100-mile ride to Gloucester!
We rolled straight from the hotel to the iconic Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road stadium, the former home of Ed Slater, where he captained the club for two seasons and made over 100 appearances. It was a fitting and powerful place to begin Day 2 of our ride — and from there, we set off towards Gloucester.
It wasn’t just saddle soreness that the team was battling — although that’s to be expected on road bikes. Some riders, James in particular, were dealing with a few other soreness issues too.
Having become well practised at patching inner tubes after punctures, it gave Debbie a rather creative idea on how best to patch James up and keep him going!
One thing is certain — this awareness ride was anything but easy. We had to cover 100 miles each day, and while there was a much shorter and flatter route into Gloucester, Dan Mathews had other ideas. Instead, he plotted a truly mammoth course that took its toll on more than a few riders — including The Anchor, who drags heavily not only on the climbs… but somehow even on the downhills!
As you can see from the moment captured here, Maul Together is a close-knit team, always supporting one another to achieve our shared goals. We stick together through the highs and the lows, showing exactly what it means to be part of a team trying to do something truly special for our amazing charities.
We were joined on the 2nd half of day 2 by ex-England and Gloucester rugby players Mark Atkinson and Charlie Sharples. Both are very close to our charities, especially 4ED. We greatly appreciate their effort in joining and giving us the motivation to complete the Gloucestershire hills and ride into the famous Gloucester Kingsholm stadium!
Thank you so much to everyone who followed our journey and supported us and our charities!
We’ll be back for more soon!