Nathan McAvoy signs up for his biggest challenge yet!

Nathan McAvoy signs up for his biggest challenge yet!

Nathan McAvoy is the latest Rugby League international to accept the challenge of taking on Rugby League Cares’s toughest-ever fundraising adventure, the UK Red Empire State 500.

The former Salford, Bradford Bulls and England star will fly out with a stellar line-up of riders to New York to cycle 535 miles from the spectacular Niagara Falls to Central Park in the heart of Manhattan over six gruelling days.

He will join the sport’s most-capped player, Adrian Morley, ex-Leeds, England and Great Britain centre Keith Senior, Warrington Wolves legend Paul Wood, current Leeds Rhinos star Tara Moxon and 13 other riders on the epic ride.

All funds raised on the UK Red Empire State 500 will go to help deliver the health and wellbeing programmes run by RL Cares to support some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in the towns, villages and cities wherever Rugby League is played.

“I’ve done a few cycling challenges with RL Cares in the past but this is by far the longest and toughest yet,” said Nathan, who now works as business development manager alongside his siblings in the family-owned Salford-based Seven Brothers Brewery.

“We all found out what the route is this week and it’s going to take a monumental effort from all of us to get through it, but it should be a fantastic experience as well.

“The work that RL Cares does across Rugby League communities is so important to so many people and I’m privileged to have this opportunity to be involved.

“I had a successful rugby career and have made a successful transition into the business world but a lot of players find that journey tough: some of the funds we raise will allow RL Cares to continue helping players become successful at the end of the careers.”

The Empire State 500 is sponsored by Leeds-based UK Red Security and Fire Systems and will see the riders follow the course of the historic Erie Canal and Mohawk River as they head east into the New York State capital. On the penultimate day of the ride they turn due south along the Hudson valley with a 106-mile ride into Poughkeepsie before riding 90 miles on the final day through Harlem and the Bronx into Central Park.

To support the work of RL Cares, please sponsor Nathan’s marathon effort by making a donation via his Justgiving page 

To sponsor any of the riders involved in the UK Red Empire State 500 please click here

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