When talented England U21 prop Matt Hampson was left paralysed by a serious neck injury suffered in training a year ago, Redman, and many others including Twickenham resident Tom Hill , were inspired to take action.
The 41 year old former Lions' captain has had 14 operations, including six on his knees and six on his shoulders and elbows, all the result of a playing career that spanned two decades and saw him represent England 20 times from 1984 - 97 and make 350 appearances for Bath.
But, next month (July), he comes out of competitive retirement to team up with eight other members of the RFU's staff, including his old England team mate Jon Callard , to tackle the seriously rugged and strength sapping Hebridean Challenge up in the wilds of Scotland .
“I've not done anything competitively since 1999 so this will be a challenge but it's something well worth getting motivated for,” says Redman.
“At 6' 4” and over 17 stone I'm not really built for endurance, but I'm taking part mainly for the swimming, alongside a bit of cycling, because they are the only things my body will cope with these days.”
Joining him in one of the two RFU teams is Whitton Road resident Tom Hill , a keen mountain runner and adventure racer who combines his sport with a hectic working lifestyle as a Sales and Marketing Manager for the RFU.
The 34 year-old Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award winner is the ideal man to have on your side having scaled Mt. Kenya and completed the Four Peaks challenge in 2004 finishing 11 th out of 54 teams.
Said Hill, “Having done all that, I've wanted to do something really different for some time now and the Hebridean Challenge is just what I was looking for. This is my chance to prove to myself what I am able to do.”
Hill and the rest of the two team line-up will, however, be tested to the limits during the Hebridean Challenge by five days and 700 miles of hill running, mountain biking, road biking, swimming and kayaking.
The teams, however, are not doing it purely for their own self-esteem and both they and the RFU are determined that the challenge will raise significant funds for all critically injured rugby players.
Team member and the RFU's Elite Rugby General Manager and event organiser Natham Martin says: “Our target is to raise £100,000. We're delighted that many of our long-term sponsors and business partners, including Nike, O2 and FXMS Logistics, are already on board and more are getting behind us every week.”
Stuart Gordon, managing director of Basingstoke-based FXMS Logistics, said, “FX is proud to assist the RFU teams in the 2006 Hebridean Challenge. We have been providing logistics support to the RFU for six years and have sponsored community rugby through Basingstoke RFC for five years. We fully support this worthy cause and we wish the teams every success for their challenge.”
David Seales, Sports Marketing Manager for Nike, also added, “In extreme conditions like those in the Outer Hebrides the teams will need kit for all weather and we're glad to be equipping the teams with specialist performance clothing and footwear for this extremely worthwhile challenge.”
Redman, Callard and Hill are joined by three members of the England U21 management team, Will Beeley (ex Royal Marine and marathon runner), Peter Drewett (two time marathon runner and former competitive decathlete) and Nicki Drinkwater (ex international rugby player and heptathlete).
And completing the two team line up are, from the Elite Rugby Department , Mike Snelling (former triathlete) and Dave Tennison (ex Royal Marines PT instructor and marathon runner) along with the Community Rugby department's Rob Drinkwater (sprint cyclist).
To support the teams on their challenge to raise money for all critically injured rugby players send your cheque, payable to RFU, to Nathan Martin, Hebridean Challenge, RFU, Rugby Road, Twickenham, TW1 1DS or e-mail hebchallenge@therfu.com .
For more information on the Challenge and to follow the teams' progress, visit www.rfu.com/hebchallenge or www.hebrideanchallenge.com . To arrange an interview with any of those participating please contact Nicki Drinkwater on 07764 660187 or nickidrinkwater@rfu.com
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