Oldham to host leg of RL walk

SPORTS fans are invited to take part in the Oldham leg of the Founders Walk — a 120-mile trek to mark 120 years of rugby league.

The event is a huge six-day fundraising event organised by the Rugby Football League and supported by Rugby League Cares.

The full route takes in some of the key historical locations linked to the early days of the sport. It will visit every one of the original 22 clubs who formed the Northern Union in 1895 at the George Hotel in Huddersfield and Rugby League celebrities will join different parts of the walks.

The Oldham leg of the walk will be started by the Mayor of Oldham, Councillor Ateeque Ur-Rehman, on Wednesday, July 22, from 12.30pm at Waterhead Park near to the former home of the Roughyeds at Watersheddings.

It will cover 3.2 miles and finish at Hathershaw College in Bellfield Avenue.

Before setting off a community event will be held, supported by the District Team and members of the Youth Council with Oldham Council’s Sports Development team also leading a warm-up.

Individuals, teams and community groups are invited to take part in the walk and the cost is only £5 per person. You can also raise funds for your organisation along the way.

Thanks to a thriving local amateur scene over the years the borough has produced some of the biggest names in the game over the years including Kevin Sinfield, Barrie McDermott, Mike Ford, Paul Sculthorpe and Kyle Eastmond.

To register or for more information email Katharine.Irwin@RLCares.org.uk or visit www.rugbyleaguecares.org/founders_walk_2015.