All,

In one month, May 16, Kenny Hamilton, Stuart Low, Graham Docherty and yours truly are participating in the Poppyscotland Hearts & Heroes Challenge.

What is that I hear you say?
The Poppyscotland Hearts & Heroes Challenge is a 29-mile, one-day fitness charity challenge (walk or run) over the unspoilt and scenic Southern Upland Way. For some reason, we have decided to run it and then use whatever energy we have left to get back to Glasgow for the Dinner Dance ... another marathon (!) ...and then we are playing in the GHK golf outing at Prestwick at 8:30 AM on Sunday morning!!!

Money raised from this event will be used to support the work of the three charities involved: Poppyscotland, The Sportsman's Charity and Hearts & Balls. Hawks has supported H&B at our dinner dance for the last three years.

The money raised for H&B will ensure that those connected with rugby are supported by the wider rugby community in times of need. This assistance can be long term or short term; it can be financial and non-financial; it can be directed towards and individual or towards a group; it can be advocacy and advisory.

Hearts and Balls has donated in the region of £200,000 to rugby players and their families since 1999. Through advice and advocacy, we also help them to raise money from other sources. Our recent funding includes:

new wheelchairs for players with spinal injuries
specialist mattresses for players with spinal injuries
adapting the home and garden of a spinally-injured player
car insurance for a specialist vehicle for a spinally-injured player
an additional carer to accompany a spinally-injured player on holiday
mortgage interest payments for the wife and young children of a player who died from a heart problem when playing rugby
specialist IT equipment for a spinally-injured player returning to study
legal costs of setting up a trust for an injured player.
Kenny, Stuart, Graham and I are looking to do our bit and we would be extremely grateful if you could donate a few pounds for this worthwhile cause.

You can donate at the following website - http://www.justgiving.com/Hawkshasbeens. If you can't donate online, paper forms will be available at the bars at both New and Old Anniesland.

Sometimes accidents happen in rugby, but it is because the rugby community comes together to help each other out that makes it the best sport in the world. Please give generously.

Sincerely,

KB

This article was posted on 15-Apr-2009, 09:57 by Hugh Barrow.