The Canberra Raiders will travel to several bushfire affected regions this week, as part of the club’s bushfire relief program.

The primary objectives of the ‘tour’ are to get a greater understanding of the devastation from the recent fire activity, lift community spirits and directly contribute to local regions that have suffered loss in so many ways.

It all starts on Tuesday, with Sia Soliola and Elliott Whitehead heading to Batlow and Tumbarumba as part of the NRL’s Roads to Regions initiative. The pair will start the day by making a special visit and donation to the Country Women’s Association – Batlow Branch on behalf of the Raiders Sports Clubs in Canberra – Belconnen, Gungahlin and Weston, before visiting schools in both towns. They will then take part in a junior rugby league clinic in Tumbarumba in the afternoon.

On Wednesday the Roads to Regions tour continues, with Luke Bateman and Andre Niko embarking on a three-day tour of other the Riverina towns, with appearances in Harden-Murrumburrah, Cootamundra, Tumut and Adelong.

On Thursday, the NRL squad (minus the nines team who are travelling to Perth) will begin their journey to the South East Coast of NSW, stopping in Braidwood along the way before basing themselves in Batemans Bay. The team will visit schools in Mogo, Broulee and the Bay itself before providing dinner for local RFS Brigades from the Shoalhaven in Bawley Point.

On Friday, the team will conduct a training session at Hanging Rock followed by a community signing session at the ground from 11am. The team will then travel to Moruya in the afternoon to visit schools. From here the trip will continue south to Cobargo and involve a return to Canberra via the Brown Mountain.

During the ‘tour’ the Raiders will be making several donations to local areas, thanks to the generous support of the Raiders Club Group. Details of these donations will be made available during and at the conclusion of the tour.

Raiders CEO Don Furner said the whole week was about showing the Raiders support for their local regions and to bushfire affected areas.

“The recent bushfire events have been catastrophic for so many across so many regions, particularly in a number of regions where the Raiders are heavily active,” Furner said. “This week is our chance to visit these areas and do what we can to help them with their ongoing recovery efforts.”

“This will be part of an ongoing commitment to these regions and the club will be looking to continue their support into the future.”