England Women’s Six Nations winner and Rugby World Cup hopeful Karen Andrew is swapping the rugby ball for a bicycle this Sunday (June 11th) to participate in the Women’s Sports Foundation Pedal in the Park event.

Like hundreds of women fly-half Andrew will be spending the day clocking up ten miles around the scenic country paths of the River Lee Country Park, Waltham Abbey in Hertfordshire. However, as a serious contender for England’s Rugby World Cup campaign, which takes place in Edmonton, Canada in August and September, Andrew hardly needs to up her fitness levels!

Pedal in the Park, which is all about learning how to get fit for the summer whilst raising money to help families in the UK with sick children through the WellChild Charity, has already attracted massive sporting celebrity support.

Rugby star Andrew will be joined by the likes of Jenny Copnall, the UK’s leading female mountain biker and Jenn O'Connor, the 24 Hour solo mountain biking champion. The event is endorsed by ITV sports presenter Gabby Logan.

Research suggests that only 24 per cent of women meet the current recommended physical activity target. Reasons why women are missing out on physical activity is often because of time constraints, inaccessibility, financial constraints and perceiving that sport is an activity exclusively for men. Cycling dispels all of these barriers and is on the increase.

For further information on Pedal in the Park and to enter online visit www.wsf.org.uk/pedal

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