Edgerley to run for friend’s cancer charity

FORMER England Sevens star Sam Edgerley is set to run 100 miles in 24 hours down the Thames Path in support of his friend’s heroic battle with cancer.

Edgerley will tackle the mammoth ‘UltraBob 100’ challenge in a bid to raise funds for Myeloma UK, a charity close to his heart after his best friend’s dad and “hero” Bob Munro was diagnosed with the incurable blood cancer.

Edgerley, 30, who also played for Doncaster Knights, will set off from Putney Bridge at 4pm on September 30 and complete a 100-mile loop in the following 24 hours.

He will be joined along the way by friends and family, including Bob’s son Joe, who will race the last 26 miles – the equivalent of a marathon – with him to the finish line.

“A 100-mile run is a mere patch on the journey Bob has battled through,” said Edgerley. “I lost my dad when I was quite young and I really valued him as an older male figure. He’s everything I aspire to be: an amazing husband and a fantastic dad. He’s an incredible guy and we’re all blessed to know him. He has really inspired me through the resilience he has shown over the last 10 years in his fight against myeloma.”

Edgerley played for England Sevens between 2011 and 2014 before signing with Doncaster. He stayed with the club until 2017.

“I used to play professional rugby but this will be the longest I’ve ever run,” he said. “The furthest I’ve ever run is 40 miles. I wanted to do something that was out of my comfort zone and that would be a struggle. But that’s nothing compared to Bob’s 10-year battle with myeloma and the resilience he has shown. It’s taken a huge toll on him and on his family but Bob is so positive and grabs every minute of life.”

Bob Munro, 62, said: “I am very touched. The other night I was chatting to him and I said, ‘This is really tricky, you might get injured, maybe you should cut it down to 100km instead of 100 miles’. The next morning he came back to me and his message said, ‘No way, it has to be 100 miles’.”