Hospice is charity of the year

Eagles winger Garry Lo, hooker Matty Fozard and coach Mark Aston met with staff and residents at the Broom Road hospice and took a tour of the facilities, which provide specialist care to those with terminal illness.

The team, which has already added the hospice’s logo on to its kits, has also vowed to donate a chunk of the proceeds from next month’s game against Dewsbury Rams to the hospice - which needs over £5m a year to continue their services.

Eagles chief executive John Whaling, who is also a Rotherham Hospice trustee, revealed he is delighted with the club’s charity choice, saying: “The hospice is an amazing place. I am personally fully aware of the great work it does, because my father-in-law was nursed there.

“Sheffield Eagles adopt a charity every year and I suggested Rotherham Hospice because, due to the demise of Don Valley Stadium, this season we are based at Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park at Brinsworth. We will be returning to Sheffield to play at The Olympic Legacy Park in 2017, but thought it would be nice to support a Rotherham charity while we are here. I was very pleased with the choice.”

The hospice, which celebrates its 20th birthday this year, has a 14-bed inpatient unit, provides 75 day places every week and has a community team which provides care to people in their own homes.

Hospice chief executive Christopher Duff said: “We rely heavily upon local people and organisations for their support. We are extremely grateful to the Sheffield Eagles for making us their chosen charity.”