Sport often brings people together at a time when we need it the most and for Cath Williams, Associate Director for Woodspring at Sirona care & health, it’s her local rugby club that has given her a much need boost.
The Williams family have supported Chipping Sodbury RFC for almost 60 years with all generations playing for the club.
Lloyd Williams also works for the NHS as a member of staff for Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust.
However, in August Lloyd was involved in a serious motorcycle accident on his way to work that left him permanently paralysed.
Cath Williams, Associate Locality Director for Woodspring, said:
“Lloyd and I had both been working non-stop throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and we were looking forward to a break away so it was a massive shock to learn of the accident and that he would never walk again, and it has been a very traumatic and stressful time for our whole family.”
Currently undergoing an intense rehabilitation program to help him adapt to life in a wheelchair, Lloyd is hoping to return to Chipping Sodbury’s ground once the grassroots rugby season starts again in January 2021.
Inspired by Lloyd’s positive attitude, the club are now raising money to improve disabled access for all fans, but they still need to find £6,000.
As part of that fundraising effort, a group of cyclists rode over 100 miles to various rugby grounds across the county before finishing back at Sodbury’s home turf.
Amongst them was another Sirona colleague Lorraine McMullen (pictured below) who alongside her two children joined at the halfway point, cycling from Ashton Gate to Bath rugby club and then back to The Ridings.
Lorraine McMullen, Associate Director of Children’s Services, said:
“I hadn’t spoken to Cath about taking part, but as my family are all very active members of the club, we jumped at the chance to do something supportive. It was a challenging ride and I had three very tired teenagers the next day, but it was worth it just to see how much it meant to her and her family when we finished the route.”
The club have now hit the halfway target on their fundraising page but are still short of their total to ensure Lloyd, Cath and the rest of their family can return to watch their beloved team again from the side-lines.
If you would like to donate you can via the club’s GoFundMe page.
