Westpac NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler is only too pleased to put his hand up again to help former teammate Royce Simmons in his second ‘Big Walk’ to raise funds for dementia research.
Fittler still remembers the soreness in his hips and legs after walking over 40km in one day during last year’s event with Penrith legend and True Blue, Simmons, who travelled 300km from his home town of Gooloogong near Cowra to the Panthers’ home ground, BlueBet Stadium.
This year Simmons is on another 300km trek starting 18 April from Dubbo to Bathurst – the very countryside Fittler has been riding through on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the 2023 NSWRL Hogs Regional Tour to promote junior Rugby League registrations.
“I’ll be part of it… I just need to work out where the flat part is,” Fittler said.
“I walked a marathon last time, and that hurt, but the hilly parts hurt more.
“Considering I’ve just ridden my motorbike through there I’ve got a good idea where the best bits will be to walk. But anything Simmo does I’ll be involved for sure.”
Simmons, 62, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, which provided the impetus to organise the ‘Royce’s Big Walk’ raising over $1 million to support the work of Dementia Australia.
“Through my own diagnosis I came to learn the statistics around dementia, and they’re genuinely shocking,” Simmons said.
“It’s a disease that affects almost every family in every community around the country.
“The walk gives us an opportunity to start important conversations and spread awareness, while also raising funds that will make a meaningful difference.”
Simmons and Fittler were part of the drought-breaking 1991 Penrith Grand Final victory over the Canberra Raiders. It was Simmons’ 237th and last NRL match as a player, and he scored two tries.
“He was such a gritty player… never the most skilful but with determination and courage he never gave up – it shows what he’s all about,” Fittler said.
“He’s got this illness now and he’s got a couple of choices – he can either whinge about it or he can go out and help other people.”
Along with raising funds for dementia research, during each leg of Royce’s Big Walk, Simmons and his walking companions will attend functions in support of local junior Rugby League clubs.
The walk finishes at Bathurst’s Carrington Park on 29 April just in time for the Panthers-Wests Tigers Round Nine NRL match for the Royce Simmons Cup.
For more information on Royce’s Big Walk click here.
