Help for Heroes rugby match ‘united rival teams’

Rugby players showed their support for soldiers recently as they took to the field to play a match in aid of Help for Heroes.

Westoe Senators and South Tyneside College players are named as rivals by the Shields Gazette, but that did not stop them uniting to raise money for the organisation.

The former team won the contest 19-10 and a total of £1,450 was raised for the charity via collections, donations and raffles.

Lol Calvert and Mark Mackay made the presentation of the fundraising cheque to Staff Sergeant Gary Gough from the 204 Signal Squadron Armoured Brigade based at Catterick.

Mr Calvert's son used to be a soldier and has served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq.

"There can surely be no worthier cause than this … as the beers went down, all became harmony and light as past games and team-mates were fondly recalled," he said.

Another fundraising mission for Help for Heroes is being held by Fox's Confectionary, which has produced limited-edition Union Jack wrappers for its glacier fruits, with one pence from each pack going towards the organisation, the BBC reported.

Posted by Mark Wilkins