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'Triathlon to the World Cup' calls in at Tigers

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Dan Reeve and Rob Aitken are going to the Rugby World Cup the hard way - and they are stopping off to meet Leicester Tigers coach Richard Cockerill and his players this weekend.

The duo are 10 days into their remarkable 'Triathlon to the World Cup' challenge, which they began by swimming across the English Channel and which features more than 1,400 miles of cycling and running around Britain before heading to Paris for the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup and then Lens, where England open their defence of the trophy.

The 'Triathlon to the World Cup' is raising funds for the Tim Reeve Charitable Trust, to help young adults with leukaemia, and the Professional Rugby Players' Association Benevolent Fund.

Dan and Rob were inspired to undertake the challenge after Dan's brother Tim Reeve died of leukaemia aged just 23 and hope their efforts will raise awareness of the disease.

The cycling leg of the triathlon features a 1,120-mile route which includes visits to each of the Guinness Premiership rugby cities, as well as the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Edinburgh's Murrayfield and finally Twickenham over a 10-day period.

But, far from relaxing after that task, the pair will then run the 262 miles between Twickenham and the Stade de France in Paris by completing a marathon a day for 10 days.

They will be calling at local Tesco stores throughout the journey, where the public can show their support, .

Tigers coach Cockerill, who will meet the fund-raisers on Saturday lunchtime (August 25) said: "It is really a fantastic effort from the guys, they are putting themselves through an amazing challenge with the swimming, cycling and running, and we will be delighted to welcome them when they arrive in Leicester.

"I am sure they will be well supported everywhere they go around the country."

You can follow Rob and Dan's progress via their web diary at http://www.thetimreevecharitabletrust.org.uk/, and supporters can also sponsor them online.  Donations to the fund already total over £115,000.