The first ever DHL First Nation Home Challenge, with four celebrity teams from each of the home nations raising money for the 2012 Sport Relief campaign, got underway on Saturday 10 March.
The challenge sees teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales race over 1,000 miles around the UK by sailing, running, rowing and cycling over a seven day period from 10-17 March 2012.
Celebrity participants include ex-rugby stars Gareth Thomas, Josh Lewsey, skiier Alain Baxter, and TV personalities such as Phil Spencer, Gethin Jones, Craig Doyle and Amanda Byram. Olympic athletes including Ed Wright (sailing) and Katherine Grainger (rowing) will be on hand to add their sweat to the cause and provide the teams with expert advice at certain stages of the challenge.
All of the teams started simultaneously from their home cities at 7am on Saturday 10 March, and will finish at the same venues on Saturday 17 March.
As well as being encouraged to go along to support the teams, the general public also have the opportunity to represent their country alongside the celebrities for the final stage of the challenge – a six-mile run in Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh or London on Sunday 25 March.
Participants can register at firstnationhome.com. Entry costs £60 with an undertaking to try and raise some sponsorship for Sport Relief.
The public can also support the team by making a donation at
www.firstnationhome.com. All the money raised by the public for Sport Relief will help transform the lives of poor and vulnerable people in the UK and across the world’s poorest countries.
For more information on the DHL First Nation Home Challenge, behind-the-scenes access to the teams, and details on how to donate or take part, visit
www.firstnationhome.com.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on the challenge on Twitter: @DHLFirstNation
Full Team Details:
Team England
Josh Lewsey MBE (Rugby, Captain)
Chris Boardman MBE (Cycling)
Rob Edmond (TV Personality)
Phil Spencer (TV Personality)
Richard Stannard (Triathlon)
Dame Ellen MacArthur (Sailing)
Martin Corry MBE (Rugby)
Phil Vickery MBE (Rugby)
Team Ireland
Craig Doyle (TV Personality, Captain)
Paddy Johns (Rugby)
Amanda Byram (TV Personality)
Sonia O’Sullivan (Athletics)
Diarmuid Gavin (TV Personality)
Shane Byrne (Rugby)
Niall Woods (Rugby)
Joe Barr (Cycling)
Ian Moore (Sailing)
Team Scotland
Dougie Vipond (TV Personality)
Rob Wainwright (Rugby)
Graeme Obree (Cycling)
Alain Baxter (Skiing / Cycling)
Jennifer Reoch (Miss Scotland)
Cat Cubie (TV Personality)
Jock Wishart (Explorer)
Kenny Logan (Rugby)
Scott Hastings (Rugby)
Stephanie Cook MBE (Athletics)
Team Wales
Gethin Jones (TV Personality, Captain)
Gareth Thomas (Rugby)
Iolo Williams (TV Personality)
Iwan Thomas MBE (Athlete)
Dafydd James (Rugby)
Richard Parks (Rugby)
Frances Donovan (TV Personality)
Ed Wright (Sailing)
Matthew Page (Cycling)
