Roughyeds helping to spread festive cheer

COMMUNITY champion . . . Lee Marsland

OLDHAM Roughyeds are doing their bit to make Christmas merrier for the homeless, hungry and destitute.

Players and staff have teamed up with Lee Marsland, the driving force behind the Impact Community Project, to collect food and clothes for those in need.

Lee, a winner in last year’s Pride in Oldham volunteers’ category, said: “It’s fantastic to receive the support and backing of Roughyeds.

“We’re embarking on a project called ‘The Big Give’ and the rugby club will be our partners, working closely with us over the next three weeks as we collect food and clothes for those who desperately need it.”

Lee - 36 on Christmas Day - will be heading a team of volunteers spending time with the homeless on the streets of Manchester in the run-up to Christmas.

Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton will be mingling with the city-centre homeless and distributing sandwiches.

Chris has already worked with Impact Community Project on other initiatives in Limehurst Village, close to the club’s Whitebank Stadium, and surrounding areas.

Chris said: “It’s a privilege to work with Lee on a project like this. He is an amazing guy with a truly remarkable and inspirational story to tell.”


How fans can help
Roughyeds chairman Chris Hamilton hopes fans will donate tinned and other non-perishable food as well as gloves, scarves, woolly hats, jumpers, sleeping bags and blankets. These will be distributed to those in desperate need, mainly in the Limehurst, Collier Hill and Hollins areas.

Donations can be left at Oasis Academy Oldham, Hollins Road, 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday or at the refreshment hut at the Whitebank Stadium on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11.30am-1pm. The deadline is Friday, December 20.