SLATER TOUCHED BY SUPPORT
ED Slater says he has been overwhelmed by support from the rugby community after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Former Gloucester and Leicester lock Slater announced his retirement from rugby with immediate effect last month.
The 34- year- old revealed he had been diagnosed with the devastating degenerative condition that fellow former sports stars Doddie Weir, Rob Burrow and Len Johnrose are also battling.
Fund- raising initiatives were immediately launched, with a JustGiving page recently topping £ 150,000.
And Slater and a group of current and former players arrived back at Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground following a 350- mile cycle ride that lasted three days and raised a further £ 155,000.
Gloucester and Slater set up the 4Ed campaign, which will initially work to raise awareness of his diagnosis, generate funds for his treatment and support his young family.
The route took in Leicester’s Mattioli Woods Welford Road stadium, Milton Keynes – Slater’s home town – and
Twickenham before heading back to the west country, with Slater being joined by the likes of current Gloucester players Lewis Ludlow, Billy Twelvetrees and Fraser Balmain.
They were welcomed by 250 Gloucester supporters, family and friends, and an emotional Slater said: “I don’t know where to start. I had a little cry coming down Birdlip Hill.
“The welcome here is humbling and mind- blowing. I have had incredible support from the club.
“After receiving the diagnosis I was in an extraordinarily dark place, and Gloucester have lifted me out of that.
“I did have a cry when we came into Gloucester because a lot has changed for me since the diagnosis. I’ve had to give up rugby.
“I’ve had to give up a lot of things.
“A lot of this challenge was about proving I could still do something which was very difficult, and it nearly broke me.”
Slater, who featured in a number of England squads and represented England Saxons, joined Gloucester in 2017 following seven years with Leicester, where he served as club captain.