England Rugby League stars, in association with Rugby League Cares, are throwing their weight behind this year’s Red Nose Day to raise money for Comic Relief.
With the Rugby League World Cup 2013 being staged in England and Wales this autumn, the England players are taking time out of their busy training schedules to take part in ‘Bake’, ‘Dress-up’ or ‘Entertainment’ fundraising challenges and doing something funny for money and are challenging Rugby League fans to get involved in fundraising activities across the country.
2012 England Academy vice-captain and rising star Ben Currie from Warrington Wolves is encouraging all community clubs to host a bake sale for Red Nose Day. Ben was formerly at Community Club Golborne Parkside RLFC (near Leigh) and hopes as many different age group teams from as many clubs as possible will join in.
England and St Helen’s star Jon Wilkin is challenging schools, community clubs and Powerleague centres to ‘Dress Up’ and play Fancy Dress Touch Rugby League at their regular training sessions during the week leading up to Red Nose Day. Money will be raised by every player wearing fancy dress, with a donation of £1.00 to Comic Relief. The best fancy dress pictures will also be published on the Rugby League Cares Facebook page.
The ‘Entertainment’ challenge is being by led by England duo Zak Hardaker from Leeds Rhinos and Josh Charnley from Wigan Warriors. The pair are challenging Rugby League fans to send in pictures of themselves holding as many sports balls in their arms as possible. As well as making a donation to Comic Relief for Red Nose Day, fans are encouraged to send in pictures or short video clips to the Rugby League Cares Facebook page of them so people can vote for their favourites.
Comic Relief supports a number of Rugby League projects and has invested around £500,000 in 37 projects since 2012 including:
Cumbria Schools RLA
Glasgow Wheelchair Rugby League Club
Castleford Tigers Community Trust, Hunslet Hawks Womens & Girls ARLFC
Comic Relief has also provided grant funding for 12 Super League and Championship Foundations and supported the work Rugby League Cares does on ‘state of mind’ projects. With the support of Comic Relief the club Foundations have been able to provide specific support to various groups in their local community carers, older people and young people have all benefit from this work.
England Rugby League coach Steve McNamara said; “The England players appreciate the great work Comic Relief supports in local communities which is why we want to encourage fans to raise as much money as they can for Red Nose Day by taking part in these fun challenges.” Commenting on the England Rugby League players support Chris Rostron, Rugby League Cares General Manager said:
“Comic Relief is a great campaign and raises an amazing amount of money for worthy causes every year, including community Rugby League clubs. It’s fantastic that we have got some of our biggest Rugby League stars supporting Red Nose Day and I would urge everyone to join in with their team mates and families to take part in these fun challenges and help get the cash piling in.
The money raised will help people living unimaginably tough lives here in the UK and across Africa as well as Rugby League Cares.
To make a donation to Rugby League’s fundraising for Comic Relief go to: my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/RugbyFootballLeague
Rugby League fans taking part in the challenges can email pictures and video of their fundraising efforts to: info@rlcares.org.uk – the best pictures and videos will be posted on the Rugby League Cares Facebook page and be entered into a special prize draw.