Sports Minister Teams Up With The Leeds Rugby Foundation
10th March 2010
Rugby Stars past and present took part in a curtain raiser on Friday evening and raised over £10,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust.
Leeds Rugby Foundations General Manager, Chris Rostron, Connecting Communities Ikram Butt & Starr Zaman all represented the Sixty Five Roses team against a Bradford Bulls All Stars team captained by Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe MP
Rugby Stars taking part on both sides included household names such as former Leeds Legend Dave Heron, Paul Newlove, Steve Hampson, Neil Holding, Paul Loughlin Graham Hallas & Jason Critchley.
The curtain raiser did not disappoint the spectators with the All Stars displaying some of the flair & skills that made them great. The All Stars stormed ahead with two successive tries early on and at first looked liked that they were going to run away victors. However, as the game went on the Sixty Five Roses team was able to show their superior fitness and a bit of luck to eventually run out winners of the exciting event.
Chris Rostron was the Sixty Five Roses star player going in for two tries with his second try, a dazzling run from 50 yards out!
Sports Minister, Gerry Sutcliffe said, ’’He was honoured to lead out the All Stars team and hoped that the game would become an annual event”. He added, “I am pleased and delighted to be able to raise funds and awareness for such a debilitating condition”.
Leeds Rugby Foundations General Manager, Chris Rostron, commented “We are delighted to support such a worthy cause and play our part be it on or off the field.
Connecting Communities Project Co-ordinator, Starr Zaman, commented “I was very pleased to be part of a unique event. The opportunity to rub shoulders and play against rugby league greats was such a thrill”.
Connecting Communities Manager and Managing Director of the British Asian Rugby Association had been integral in putting the event together along with a collaboration of partners is donating half of his profits from his autobiography Tries & Prejudice to the CF Trust commented “I have been supporting the CF Trust for the last three years and am delighted that this year I am able to do so”.
Tina Davies-Johnstone, funding raising manager – Yorkshire, for the CF Trust, was delighted with support from all the partners involved and the money that was raised commented “To raise £10,000 in such difficult times with the recession and the financial economy is a tremendous achievement and my heart goes out to all the people that dug deep into their pockets and gave their precious time for the cause”.
Further information on the CF Trust can be found on www.cftrust.org.uk