David Tabone, former MRFU international, left Malta yesterday for the ride of his life!

David is the only Maltese national taking part in Lawrence Dallaglio’s Cycle Slam, an epic fundraising cycle event which started in Rome on 12 February and is scheduled to finish in Edinburgh on 12 March. The route coincides with each of the RBS Six Nations matches and has been split into five stages.

David Tabone is joining Dallaglio and friends for the final stage with his route starting in Rosslare (southern tip of Ireland) next Friday.

After 549 km and a ferry crossing to Stranraer, he’ll finish in Edinburgh eight days later, just in time to watch Scotland vs England.

Dallaglio, the ex captain of England’s rugby squad and Tabone are old school friends and “what started as a light hearted challenged during a recent reunion has snowballed into a massive event,” said David. “As well as supporting Lawrence in his bid to raise £1m for the UK’s Sport Relief and the recently established Dallaglio Foundation, I will also be raising funds for the Malta Hospice Movement.”

“I’ve had massive support from family, friends and sponsors in Malta and really hope that the training I’ve put in will pay off,” David said. “But, the thought of spending seven days in the saddle is worrying me more than anything I did in my rugby career. I’m really looking forward to watching Scotland vs England at the end of the trip, but I reckon I’ll be doing it standing up!”

The Malta Hospice Movement provides Palliative Care support to families affected by cancer, motor neurone disease or other terminal illnesses. Sport Relief raises money to help vulnerable people in both the UK and the world’s poorest countries.

To watch David’s progress, one may log on to the official website: www.dallagliocycleslam.com.

If one would like to make a donation to support David’s challenge, in turn supporting the Malta Hospice Movement (via the Dallaglio Foundation) and Sport Relief, one may visit www.justgiving.com/David-Tabone-doingsomethingcrazyforcharity.