Leeds Rhinos record charity single for The Sick Children's Trust
Howard Lake | 5 February 2010 | News
What Have You Done Today To Make You Feel Proud?
Leeds Rhinos Record a Gospel Choir CD in Aid of The Sick Children’s Trust
Big, burley rugby players are renowned for singing on the pitch but the Leeds Rhinos are lending their voices to a higher cause as they prepare to release a charity CD—singing 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 RJC Productions Gospel Choir under the direction of Le Roy Johnson.
“It’s a sublime juxtaposition, big burley 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 in rehearsal and we’re going to raise the roof at the recording,” 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 £700,000 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 the lads have been great in rehearsals, 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. CD’s are just £5 and can be purchased at www.sickchildrenstrust.org or by ringing Vicki Smith on 07525-424406
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 move of Eckersley House to the LGI will also mean more bedrooms – from 16 to 22 – to help more families in their time of need.
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: 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.
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.