THE biggest ever UK Challenge, pitting four nations against each other and starring a host of well-known celebrities, top sportsmen and women and 4000 sport-loving members of the public is to be one of the highlights of next year’s Sport Relief, it was announced today (26th October 2011).
The newly-formed DHL First Nation Home will be the ultimate sporting showdown between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales as the celebrity teams run, row, cycle and sail their way around the UK and Ireland.
The four Teams, which will be made up of celebrities and sports stars representing their "home" country will race over 1000 miles around the UK and Ireland over a seven day period from 10th -17th March 2012.
On Sunday 25th March, ONE THOUSAND members of the public who each secured one of the limited places to represent their country will run the final SIX mile to the finish, alongside the many famous faces in their individual teams. In doing so these members of the public will determine which nation is the first winner of the inaugural First Nation Home challenge.
Members of the public will be able to secure one of the limited places from today (26th October 2011) at www.firstnationhome.com. They will have to pay an entry fee of £60 and commit to raise a minimum sponsorship of £450 each between now and the final run on March 25th 2012.
Each national team will consists of 10 members including international rugby players and an Olympic hero from one of the sports, sailing, running and cycling who will join their home national team as ‘ringer’ for their particular discipline – this year raising money for Sport Relief.
Dame Ellen MacArthur will be at the helm of Team England's 72 foot challenger yacht from Northern Ireland to Scotland, while Team Scotland will benefit from the skill and expertise of World Champion cycling time trialist Graeme "The Flying Scotsman" Obree who will line up against his great friend and rival Chris Boardman MBE, Team England's own World Champion and Olympic Gold medal-winning cyclist.
The national teams will start the race simultaneously from their home cities of Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh and London and will head off clockwise around the UK and Ireland via the other four capital cities as they battle their way to be the First Nation Home.
Back row (l-r): Josh Lewsey, Iwan Thomas, Paddy Johns, Thom Evans
Front row (l-r): Chris Boardman, Gemma Atkinson, Andrea McLean, Graeme Obree
The challenge is sponsored by the world’s leading logistics company, DHL and supported by top sports clothing company Adidas, who will kit out the celebrity teams and the 4000 public participants in their national colours. The challenge is also supported by the UK's leading Brewer Heineken and Halfords - The UK and Ireland's largest cycling retailer. Ocean Youth Trust Scotland will also be supplying two yachts for use in the challenge race.
Challenge Director, former Scottish Rugby International, Cameron Mather said: “This challenge is all about legacy, encouraging active participation in sport and giving the general public a chance to represent their country alongside their sporting legends and heroes as well as a few very keen and very fit celebrities! It’s a unique event because of the public’s participation and they will be the people who will ultimately determine if their country wins the challenge and, at the same time, raising a mountain of cash for Sport Relief. What more motivation do you need!
Josh Lewsey, England Captain: “Representing England was always a very special time in my life and to get the chance to do it again while having fun and raising money for an incredible cause was an opportunity I just couldn't turn down!”
Iwan Thomas, Olympian and Welsh Team member: “I was always very proud to compete in a Welsh vest and am looking forward to representing this great sporting nation again in the DHL First Nation Home. I know we are going to have some amazing support from the Welsh people and I am already in training to make sure I am on the winning team".
Craig Doyle, TV Presenter and Irish Captain: “I'm really looking forward to competing alongside and against so many of the sportsmen and women I've reported on over the years. Some of my good friends are in the other national teams - the banter is slowly building and I get the feeling some friendships will be tested!”
As the nation celebrates the biggest ever year of sport, the entire country can join in the fun with Sport Relief 2012 from Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th March.
Over one million people are expected to take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile as they raise cash to change lives at home and across the world’s poorest countries. And, with a whole weekend of top Sport Relief telly planned across the BBC, it’s all set to be huge.
From David Walliams’ Thames swim to Eddie Izzard’s 43 marathons in 51 days, Sport Relief has a unique history of brave celebrities taking on gruelling physical challenges to raise cash and change lives. Sport Relief 2012 will be no exception with The BT Sport Relief challenges, a series of celebrity endurance feats.
Visit sportrelief.com to keep up with the latest news.
Latest From Twitter Hey guys! Get following to see how you can represent your country along with me for the challenge!!! ?
Ofcourse someone needs to give , & some competition! :)
Sport Relief have launched First Nation Home. Represent your home nation and change lives via
Watch the YouTube Video
Like First Nation Home on Facebook
|
