Leeds fundraiser a success for Whitehaven

Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos were the guests of honour at a fundraising dinner in Whitehaven on Saturday evening and they were given a massive welcome by the Cumbrian audience.

Over 200 guests joined the team and coaching staff along with Whitehaven coach Ged Stokes at the dinner with an auction and raffle raising funds to help Whitehaven with their plans for the new season and they long term dream of earning a place in Super League.

Stokes praised the Leeds Rhinos players and the club for their support of his club as part of a pre-season trip to Cumbria.

Speaking at the dinner Stokes said, “I can’t praise the Leeds organization enough. The players are an absolute credit to the club. We are proud to be in partnership with them and I am sure there is lots we can work on and learn about.”

Leeds Rhinos skipper Kevin Sinfield said he and his team mates were made to feel like superstars on their visit to Whitehaven.

After training at the Recreation Ground on Saturday, the team met nearly a hundred youngsters as part of a training session before going on a walk about the harbour at Whitehaven.

Commenting at the dinner Sinfield said, “It was great to walk about Whitehaven and see the passion that people have for Rugby League. We felt like Premiership footballers, everyone kept coming up to us and asking us for autographs and we were more than happy to accommodate them.”

To watch eight videos from the dinner including interviews with Sinfield and Stokes visit www.therhinos.co.uk/tv