Cougars lead the way with charity shirt deal (From Keighley News)

Cougars lead the way with charity shirt deal

2:14pm Thursday 31st July 2008

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KEIGHLEY Cougars are donating their shirt sponsorship space to charity in a rugby league first as the club launches a major new membership scheme.

Manorlands Hospice will feature on the front of the Cougar strips until 2011 in a move being hailed by the Rugby Football League's top brass.

The club also unveiled the KC Club membership scheme where supporters will pay £2.50 or £6.50 a week with 50p going to the Oxenhope hospice and 50p to a Cougar Cash Lottery with the remainder being invested in club initiatives and the team.

Officials are hoping to raise £25,000 for the charity by attracting 1,000 gold members and 300 platinum by the start of next season.

Cougars chairman Neil Spencer said: "We are tremendously excited to launch this innovative initiate which is a world first for Rugby League and supports a hugely important charity.

"Our support of Manorlands and the launch of the KC Club in tandem with this will bring tremendous benefits to both our club and to our community.

"We believe it can drive us forward as a professional sporting organisation and more significantly it can create a platform for us to increase the reach of our already successful community programmes and to continue to offer education through sport to many young people.

"We hope the Sue Ryder Care - Manorlands Hospice will enjoy increased profile and some additional resources to assist their vital work."

RFL chief executive Richard Lewis added at the scheme's launch on Monday: "I am delighted that yet again Cougars are leading the way."

Jodie Shepherd from Sue Ryder Care - Manorlands Hospice said: "We are delighted to be involved in this initiative with Keighley Cougars and are grateful to have been chosen.

"We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our £2million running costs and the support of our local communities means a great deal to us. We hope the scheme will be well supported as it will be beneficial to both our local rugby team and our local hospice."

Promotion-chasing Cougars believe it is the first time a professional rugby league side has made the charitable gesture, although in football Barcelona have given their shirt space over to Unicef and Aston Villa to West Midlands hospice Acorns.

There are two tiers of membership in the KC Club. Gold, costing £130 a year, gives supporters access to club discounts, promotions and special events, as well as offers at town shops and restaurants.

Platinum membership, costing £260, offers the same priveliges as the gold tier but includes a season ticket worth £140.

Head coach Barry Eaton said: "The club is making good progress on the field and giant strides off the field as well and this just shows that we are a forward-thinking club."

Other partners in the scheme include Sunwin Nissan and the Keighley News.

Editor Malcolm Hoddy said: "I was more than happy for the Keighley News to be a part of this initiative. I am especially delighted as The Sue Ryder Care - Manorlands Hospice is a place close to all of our hearts."

To become a member of the KC Club and support the Cougars and Manorlands contact the club on 01535 606044, download an application from keighleycougars.info or call into the office at Cougar Park, Sunwin Nissan or Manorlands Hospice.

l Oldham v Cougars match report and weekend preview - pages 46 and 47

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