Wooden Spoon CEO Sarah Webb was thrilled with the challenging work and success of the Gallagher Road to Twickenham Challenge as they completed their epic charity bike ride at the weekend.

A team of 650 cyclists, former Premiership players and former internationals took part in the 750-mile bike ride from Newcastle to Twickenham, stopping at all 13 Gallagher Premiership grounds on the way to raise money for Wooden Spoon and various Premiership Rugby foundations.

The cross-country charity cycle saw a core team of former rugby internationals Jack Clifford and Nathan Hines joined by 2016 Paralympic champion and track cyclist Louis Rolfe.

Gallagher’s Road to Twickenham bike ride built upon the Wooden Spoon’s core values of Passion, Integrity, Teamwork and Fun, while aiming to raise as much money as possible in just seven days.

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby, funding life-changing projects across the UK & Ireland that support vulnerable children and young people.

Their aim is that every penny that their volunteers raise is spent on life-changing projects in their local communities.

In the last year, despite the difficult conditions, they funded 43 charitable projects supporting 100,000 vulnerable children and young people. However, more vulnerable children need their help, now more than ever.

Webb said: "Through the rugby fraternity we support projects across the UK and Ireland supporting children with disabilities or facing disadvantage

"The Road to Twickenham is the brainchild of Gallaghers and they wanted to do something to raise some funds in the aftermath of Covid, so they produced a bike ride, it made sense that we went to all the different stadiums across the UK and really it's just snowballed from there.

"Through all of their efforts, we've raised a signification of money to help vulnerable children across the UK and Northern Ireland.

"We really didn't have any expectations because it's the first time that we've done it. I think we've always learnt some lessons. I think the team behind the ride are as much to share the success of it, they've just been integral.

Webb has been  impressed with the dedication and tough mental attitude that the cyclists put themselves through on the seven-day challenge.

And was keen to relate how these are the kind of challenges vulnerable children face on an everyday basis.

She added: "The ride itself, I think it's been an interesting ride for all of them. They've really had some tough days.

"But we talked about it the night before they set off and it's the children that we support have tough days every single day, they have challenges and days where it all just seems a bit too hard.

"I think when the boys and girls hit those brick walls, it was what they remembered that was what they were doing the ride for."

Webb stressed how important the money fundraised during the ride is for thousands of children up and down the UK and Northern Ireland in giving them these opportunities.

She said: "There's been a real lack of provision across Covid. Centres have shut down, programmes have stopped. So, as we start to pick up normal life again after Covid, the monies that will be raised will go towards projects where they need it the most. We will work together with Gallagher; we will identify projects where they need it the most.

"It could be things from a bedroom in a children’s hospice or a specially adapted playground giving children with disabilities the ability to play

"We work with a myriad of different children, and it could be that they are non-communicative, and we help the sensors they have so we want to provide them with equipment or animals like horses and things like that to help them have a more advanced experience in their learning.

"Right the way through to some of the kids who have fallen through the cracks, and we can step in with the programmes like HITZ which actually gives them employment and education training."

Wooden Spoon is the children’s charity of rugby. With the help of you, the rugby family, we fund life-changing projects across the UK & Ireland that support vulnerable children and young people. Text WOODENSPOON 10 to 70085 to donate £10 or visit JustGiving: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/gallaghersbikeride and woodenspoon.org.uk to find out more.