THE town’s rugby league community is set to unite once again to remember the late Warrington Wolves player and coach Paul Darbyshire on the sixth anniversary of his death.

A 100-mile bike ride beginning and ending at the Wire’s Halliwell Jones Stadium will take place on Saturday, June 17, paying home to an emotional cycle in the wake of Paul’s death aged 41 in 2011.

Paul, who played for the club between 1989 and 1997 and later served as assistant coach and conditioner, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in September 2010 and died nine months later.

At that time, a swarm of cyclists were biking 300 miles from fellow former club Munster RU in Ireland to Warrington in his honour.

Family, friends and fans have held annual cycles in aid of the MND Association since then.

Paul’s wife Lyndsay Darbyshire said: “Last year’s ride was the best yet and we hope we can do even better this year.

“It’s just fantastic that the Wolves are right behind us and have invited us to launch the ride from the stadium.

“It’s a great day out and we have different challenges depending on your level of experience from a short circuit of the stadium for little ones to a 100-mile ride for those with more experience.

“Our sons Jack and Harry are riding too and everyone is welcome – the more the merrier.

“One day we hope that motor neurone disease will be a thing of the past and that through research we can help all those who might suffer from it in the future.”

Club duty dependent, Warrington Wolves players and staff including Ben Westwood, Jon Clarke and Ben Stirling will be taking part in the cycle.

Volunteers are wanted to take part in the event alongside them as they aim to raise more than £1,000 for the charity.

Woolston Rovers, where Lyndsay is team manager of the u13s, will also be backing the bike ride.

Dave Whalley from the club said: “We as a club are delighted to be able to support this event in memory of Paul.

“We are asking all of our club members to get the message out about the bike ride and hopefully we can get a great number from the club to take part and help to raise a significant amount of money for such a worthy charity.

“Lyndsay is a valued of our club and we hope that it is a great success once again.”

For more information on the bike ride email bikeride4darbs.wordpress.com.