Ed Slater praises club after incredible fundraising campaign

Former player Ed Slater has paid tribute to the phenomenal fundraising effort displayed by Milton Keynes RUFC, after successfully raising almost £10,000 for the #4ed campaign.

The campaign is designed to provide ‘support for individuals and families in Gloucestershire who are living with Motor Neurone Disease and the financial pressures it brings. They achieve this through offering financial and psychological support to help mitigate the effects of the disease.’

In July 2022 Gloucester Rugby player Ed Slater announced his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and thus the 4Ed campaign was created to raise awareness and funds in support of Ed and his family’s battle with the disease. What followed was an outpouring of support, generosity, and kindness from the rugby family across the UK and the World.

Matthew Dixon from Milton Keynes rugby club said: “Ed started playing rugby at Milton Keynes as a youngster and many of our members played alongside him in their youth. We do an annual fundraising bike ride, where we cycle 250 miles in 3 days to raise money for the club, Willen Hospice and another charity. As well choosing the #4Ed campaign as the other charity this year, we decided we wanted to do even more.”

 “We play some ad hoc vets’ games throughout the season, but it’s usually a case of rallying the troops to pull a team together. For this game, both sides had a full fifteen and subs. Some of the guys hadn’t played for ten years but came back as they wanted to be a part of this game.”

“On the morning of the match, the pitch was waterlogged so a lot of people had to pull together to get it playable. There was a crowd of about 300 people for the game and it finished 26 – 5 to Milton Keynes. But the event was less about the score and more about raising as much money as we could.”

Ed Slater has been blown away by the support shown by his former club, commenting on Twitter: “The support this rugby club has shown me and the family has blown us away. Another reason why we can never forget how important grassroots rugby and the community game is on so many levels!”

View the fundraising link here.