On the 20th February 2018, we sadly lost my best friend Ian Michael Williams (Saffa) at the incredibly young age of 27. Ian collapsed suddenly at training while playing for Doncaster Knights and despite the best efforts of his club and teammates, he could not be resuscitated. For all that knew Ian, he was a larger than life character and it is vitality important that his legacy lives in.

I have made the very silly decision to run the Brighton Marathon on the 6th April and I can think of no better cause than to raise funds for the Foundation set up in his name. Training is in full flow with 20 miles already under the belt, despite the slow time.

The vision for The Ian Williams Foundation is to move beyond this sadness and create an impactful vehicle for change. Like Ian, the Foundation aims to be big, sporty, strong, compassionate, dynamic, driven and caring, to recognise potential in everyone and put them in the position to do and be their best. It follows three principles.

Screen
Campaigning to make cardiac screening available at all levels within rugby. To raise awareness of the need for regular heart screening and enable it to be introduced as standard for players who are 16+ at all levels. We are working with CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) and St George’s Sports Cardiology department, and are in conversation with the RFU and WRU to ascertain who we can work with and how we can work facilitate/fund/promote these screenings.

Encourage
Shedding light on and destigmatizing mental health issues in sport by supporting open conversations amongst athletes to improve their mental health and wellbeing. So often there is a hyper-masculinity that is expected within rugby in particular, and, as a result, an impact on the way in which players are willing (or rather not willing) to share or reveal mental stresses and strains. We want to encourage real discussion and awareness of what each other are going through.

Enable
Ian always believed in people’s potential and in striving for the best, and it was always his intention to use his own successes to facilitate opportunities for those less fortunate than himself. We want to continue this conviction within the realm of rugby by opening doors for those with the potential to play, regardless of their background – though how that would look at this stage is not clear.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated for this great cause and see you at the finish line!

Donations