The Gloucester Rugby Foundation, which is a registered charity (#1165303), has officially adopted the 4Ed campaign as a restricted fund to secure the future legacy of the campaign and the transformative impact it has.
Set up in July 2022 by Gloucester Rugby as a way of generating awareness and funds following Ed Slater’s diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), the 4Ed campaign has helped raised in excess of £0.5m to support Ed, his family and MND causes. Money raised has contributed to the significant adaptions required for Ed’s home and has provided opportunities for the Slater Family to make precious memories over the last 12 months and beyond.
The campaign will now officially move into the Gloucester Rugby Foundation, with all money raised being used to provide bursaries for families affected by MND in Gloucestershire to access support, including funding vital equipment, changes to the home, family days out, or psychological support. The 4Ed campaign will also seek to raise continued awareness of MND to help influence national policy, as well as provide access to Kingsholm for support sessions and respite care through sports adapted activities, particularly for families impacted by the disease.
The Foundation's independent Board of Trustees will meet quarterly to agree the distribution of funds raised as part of the 4Ed campaign, ensuring that every penny donated reaches those in need, and is used for the charitable objectives of the campaign and the Foundation.
Fundraising events will take place throughout the season and beyond, including the return of the 4Ed Dinner, following it’s hugely successful debut in March 2023 and the launch of our 4Ed cycle sportif, giving everyone the chance to get on their bikes and raise vital funds 4Ed.
Foundation CEO, Rob Webber, commented: “We are honoured and privileged to be entrusted by Ed, Jo and the Slater family to be the custodians of the 4Ed campaign. Our mission at the Foundation is simple; to remove the inequalities that we live within our society and through the 4Ed campaign we can now expand our work to support people living with MND.
“By working with Ed, and building on the incredible generosity from the Rugby Family across the world, we can provide life changing support for families living with the physical, mental and social effects of MND. So, I urge all of you to get involved by fundraising, donating or shouting about our work and help us to raise vital funds in our fight against MND.
Gloucester Rugby CEO, Alex Brown, said: “It’s absolutely right that 4Ed moves into our official charity via the Gloucester Rugby Foundation. What started as a campaign name to generate support of the 300+ mile cycle that a group of players undertook last pre-season has now become a much bigger platform, one that, via Ed, is inspiring so many to raise funds in support of finding treatment, and a cure, for MND.
“Due to that success, we’re now in a position to use the campaign’s platform and donations to generate grants for families affected by this disease. We need donations to ensure we can help as many people as possible in Gloucestershire. Ed is one of us - once a Cherry and White, always a Cherry & White - and we will continue to fight for him and those affected by MND.”
The Slater Cup will also continue to raise crucial awareness of MND, for which there is no treatment and no cure. The Slater Cup is contested by Gloucester Rugby and Leicester Tigers each season in home away fixtures of the regular league season. Leicester are current Cup holders having won both legs in the 2022/23 season. Gloucester will host Leicester Tigers in the first round the Slater Cup at Kingsholm on Saturday 25 November.
Details of our fundraising events, including the 4Ed dinner, will be released shortly. Please keep an eye out on our website and social media channels for more information.
How can I get involved?
There are plenty of ways to get involved and support 4Ed. Whether it is donating some much-needed funds, attending one of our official 4Ed fundraisers or organising your own personal challenge, we need your support to ensure that we can provide as many families as possible with the life changing support that they need.
Donate online: Donate - Donation amount - JustGiving
Donate via phone: Text 4ED followed by your donation amount to 70560 to give that amount. *Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us. If you would like to donate but don't wish to hear more from us, please text 4EDNOINFO instead.
Can you support my own 4Ed fundraiser?
We know so many of you will want to host your own events to support 4Ed. Due to the incredible outpouring of support from the rugby community, it would be impossible for the Foundation to be directly involved with every event. To help you with your own fundraising efforts, please find some helpful information below:
You can register your event with the Official 4Ed campaign through Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/4ed
Where possible, we will share information about your #4Ed fundraising through our social channels and 4Ed newsletter. Please email [email protected] to add your event, including the following information:
Location
Date/time
Organiser contact details (if relevant)
