Rhinos Got Talent
Howard Lake | 21 February 2010 | News
Video Clips attached for web release, for more info contact Jennifer Middleton je******@le*********.uk or telephone 07708 155501
Rhino’s Got Talent!
Leeds Rhinos Release Inspirational “Proud” CD in Aid of The Sick Children’s Trust
The Leeds Rhinos may be facing the match of the year at Gillette World Club Challenge on the 28th February but they can be “Proud” of their efforts off the pitch as they release their charity CD in aid of The Sick Children’s Trust.
Big, burly rugby players are renowned for singing on the pitch but the Leeds Rhinos are singing to a higher cause —s inging Heather Small’s inspirational and triumphant hit “Proud” to aid The Sick Children’s Trust (SCT)’s ‘Big Move’ appeal. The 25 strong squad are joined by 40 stirring gospel voices from the RJP Productions Gospel Choir under the direction of Leroy Johnson.
“It’s a sublime juxtaposition, big burly sporting stars alongside our community choir. It’s a great fit, and an inspirational way to raise money for a great cause. Rhinos have really surprised me with their commitment and big voices, it’s a great effort, ” explains music director Johnson.
The SCT’s ‘The Big Move’ campaign, aims to raise £1.7 million to move Eckersley House from its current location at St James’s Hospital to the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) in May 2010. To date The SCT has raised over 1 million pounds to fund the move—but still need to raise the crucial £550,000 to open the new house this summer.
Rhinos Captain, Kevin Sinfield explains, “The Rhinos are really committed to our local community and we wanted to do something unique to help The Sick Children’s Trust and getting the team to sing at the top of their lungs seemed a good place to start. We have a post match sing after every win which is pretty raucous but this CD, it’s pretty inspiring.”
“Proud, is such an emotionally charged song, the title says it all – What have done today to make you feel proud? It’s immensely satisfying to help such a worthwhile cause as a team and ‘The Big Move’ appeal really needs our help now more than ever.”
Fundraiser for ‘The Big Move’ appeal Vicki Smith said, “The Sick Children’s Trust is so grateful for the Rhinos support and we’re hoping to raise about £10,000 from the CD. It’s a great song and a great cause.”
The CD release will coincide with the Gillette World Club Challenge on the 28th February at Elland Road when the Rhinos meet their Aussie Rivals, Melbourne Storm. The Enhanced CD includes: The Proud track with an added video of ‘the making” of the CD for computer viewing and the Kumbya track from RJ Productions.
The enhanced CD can also be purchased at selectedLeeds Building Society Branches, and Rhinos shop at Carnegie Ground, Headingley, and the St Johns Centre, Leeds for £5. For £5.75 the CD can be posted to you by emailing your details to vi***@si****************.org–while stocks last.
For 16 years Eckersley House has supported the recovery of seriously ill children across Yorkshire by providing high quality accommodation and caring staff for families, just minutes away from the hospital wards.
St James’s Hospital is moving its children’s wards to the LGI to create a paediatric Centre of Excellence. By April 2010 the majority of children’s wards will be moved to the new centre. This development means that Eckersley House will no longer be needed in its present location at St James’s Hospital, but will be in great demand at the LGI.
The SCT will be the sole provider of family accommodation at the LGI; so if Eckersley House isn’t moved, every year hundreds of sick children from across Yorkshire would have to undergo prolonged medical treatment without their families being close by.
Release ends
For more information on The SCT visit our website at www.sickchildrenstrust.org
Media Enquiries contact: Jennifer Middleton on 01757 268283 or email je******@le*********.uk
If you would like to get involved in ‘The Big Move’ fundraising campaign – perhaps by making a donation or organising a fundraising event – or would like further information about the campaign please contact Vicki Smith, Regional Fundraiser, based at Eckersley to be the contact for the appeal now. Her number is 07525- 424406 or email is vi***@si****************.org
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Notes to Editors
Part funding for the CD is courtesy of Unionlearn: a national organization that promotes learning & skills for workers. Unionlearn is a collaboration of community, professional sports players, charities, and trade unions working together for the common good. Unionlearn is part of the TUC.
The Sick Children’s Trust was founded in 1982 by two paediatric specialists Dr Jon Pritchard and Professor James Malpas. They believed that having parents on hand during hospital treatment benefited a child’s recovery.
Today we have seven ‘Homes from Home’ at major hospitals around the country where families can stay free of charge, for as long as they need whilst their child is undergoing treatment – Eckersley House being one of them. There is a growing demand for our ‘Homes from Home’ as children must increasingly travel long distances to get the specialist treatment they need. To date we have helped more than 30,000 families. To run the ‘Homes from Home’ we rely entirely on voluntary donations; and need to raise £1million this year to keep them open.
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The Sick Children’s Trust was founded in 1982 by two paediatric specialists Dr Jon Pritchard and Professor James Malpas. They believed that having parents on hand during hospital treatment benefited a child’s recovery.
Today we have seven ‘Homes from Home’ at major hospitals around the country where families can stay free of charge, for as long as they need whilst their child is undergoing treatment – Eckersley House being one of them. There is a growing demand for our ‘Homes from Home’ as children must increasingly travel long distances to get the specialist treatment they need. To date we have helped more than 30,000 families. To run the ‘Homes from Home’ we rely entirely on voluntary donations; and need to raise £1million this year to keep them open.
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About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.