rugby star at charity event
Last updated 11:42, Thursday, 26 June 2008
RUGBY legend Scott Quinnell was the star speaker at a Cumbrian event that raised more than £20,000 for charity.
The black-tie dinner, at Rheged, Penrith, was in aid of the Wooden Spoon charity which supports mentally, physically and socially disadvantaged children.
The evening aimed to raise cash for two new boats for Blackwell Sailing, an organisation that helps kids taste sailing for the first time. The event – attended by 150 people – was co-organised and sponsored by Handelsbanken – the Swedish bank with a branch in Carlisle.
Quinnell, and Cumbrian John Owen, who takes up presidency of the English RFU in 2009, were guest speakers.
Mike Harrison, the former England captain who works for Handelsbanken in Sheffield, was a guest of honour.
Auction prizes, including a week’s hire of a Bentley Convertible that raised £1,100, were sold to the highest bidder. MC for the evening was Richard Lancaster of Carlisle Handelsbanken.
John Cunningham, chairman of Wooden Spoon Cumbria, said: “Thanks to the hard work and fantastic support of Mike Fell and his team at the Carlisle office, we have been able to surpass our targets and make a real difference for disadvantaged children in Cumbria.”
Wooden Spoon, is the official Rugby Football Union charity and has been active in Cumbria now for four years.
