Golf day will add to charitable total

As they get ready to climb into the saddle two fundraisers hope a charity golf day will help boost their charitable total.

Russell Green and Simon Stuteley, who are senior financial advisers at St Edmundsbury Wealth Management, will be taking on the Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club’s 50th Anniversary Memorial Cycle Ride, which will see them tackle 354 miles, between September 10 and 15.

Born and raised in Suffolk, Russell and Simon, who have been friends for over 10 years, decided to take part in the ride which commemorates those lost in the 1974 air disaster.

The plane crash on March 3, 1974, was the worst the world had ever seen. Players, staff and colleagues from Bury Rugby Club had visited France in good spirits – to watch the England versus France Five Nations match and take part in a friendly against a local side – having just won the Suffolk Knockout Cup.

But after their friendly scheduled for the day of the crash was postponed, 18 of the 21-strong party opted to take an earlier flight on the ill-fated Turkish Airlines DC-10 as a two-day strike at Heathrow had halted any British flights.

In total 346 people perished in the tragedy, which caused incomparable grief in the West Suffolk town and rugby community. Ten local women had been widowed and between them, they had 19 children who were now fatherless.

Neither Russell nor Simon are cyclists, but having been inspired by the Memorial Cycle Ride they see taking part as an opportunity to help raise funds for a great cause. So, they bought road bikes and started their training.

Funds raised by the ride will be split between the rugby club (60 per cent) and the St Nicholas Hospice Care (40 per cent).

As well as their own fundraising St Edmundsbury Wealth Management has organised a charity golf day, which will see 48 players come together to raise funds at Flempton Golf Club on August 21.

Ten years ago a memorial cycle ride, to commemorate 40 years since the tragedy took place raised an amazing £187,000.

Again, 2024’s ride will see riders set off from the Memorial Site in Ermenonville Forest, France, and pedal their way back to Bury St Edmunds Rugby Club’s Haberden Ground.

You can support Russell’s efforts here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/russell-green-1718708860454 and Simon’s here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/simon-stuteley-1718811953375