Phil Holmes and a team of 10 cyclists including Leeds Rugby Foundation’s very own Keith Senior, is to next week cycle 300 miles, over 4 days, from Northern Ireland to Headingley Carnegie Stadium in memory of Phil’s brother and Leeds legend John Holmes.
Phil, who is a committee member on the Leeds Rhinos Players Association and a keen supporter of Leeds Rugby Foundation, has teamed up with a team of nine other close relatives and friends to raise money for Cancer Research UK and The Sue Ryder Wheatfield’s Hospice.
The ‘Benburb 2 Headingley Cycle’, will see Phil, Keith and the team set off from Benburb, Northern Ireland on Monday 28th April and cycle through other rugby league homes of Widnes, Warrington, St. Helens, Wigan and Bradford before eventually arriving at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Friday 2nd May ready for the kick-off of the Rhinos v Wigan Warriors.
It’s all in memory of Phil’s brother and Leeds legend, John Holmes as well as cousin Billy Williamson who both sadly lost their battles against cancer back in 2009.
Leeds legend John Holmes, made 625 appearances for Leeds, including playing in 19 Finals, emerging victorious on 14 occasions. Over twenty glorious seasons the boy from Kirkstall Road, who made his debut as a 16 year old, matured into one of the most gifted men ever to don the famous colours. Many felt he had his finest hour dragging Leeds back from the brink against St Helens at Wembley in 1978.
Phil Holmes commented: “My father, also named John Holmes, was born in Benburb and as a family we visited there a lot. Obviously, my brother John and I were born and bred in Leeds so the cycle route is quite close to our hearts.
“Two charities which are also close to my heart are Cancer Research UK and The Sue Ryder Wheatfield’s Hospice – the latter of which looked after my brother so very well in his final days with us.
“This is certainly a tough challenge, but one which is certainly worthwhile and we are all looking forward to it!"
The team will be bucket collecting on their way to Leeds, but fans can show their support by visiting www.Benburb2headingley.co.uk