Rugby
Falcons donate kit to Zambian poor
30 May 2007
Newcastle Falcons players and coaches have donated their training kit to the people of Zambia.
Durham University student Mollie Pearse organised the kit donation, having spent time this season on placement with the club.
Durham forms one sixth of the Wallace group (other contributing Universities: Loughborough, Northumbria, Bath, UWIC and Sterling) and was formed in 2005 with the vision of improving the quality of lives of young Zambians.
The Wallace group works together with UK Sport on home soil and Sport in Action in Lusaka, Zambia, to empower young Zambians through the influential medium of sport. UK and Zambian volunteers work together to provide diversions from sexual and drug abuse as well as providing alternative life opportunities through education in order to combat the HIV/AIDS crisis.
All Newcastle Falcons players and coaches brought their training kit to Kingston Park for the handover, with director of rugby John Fletcher stating: “We’ve had an excellent response from the squad.
“As a professional sports team we are very fortunate to receive a lot of kit free of charge, and we feel it is only right that less advantaged people get to benefit from this.”
Pearse has been involved in the project since its launch in the summer of 2006, and said: “Having the chance to work with children and young adults in Zambia last year was amazing.
“It was phenomenal to see how the population copes on so very few resources. Sport is an excellent vehicle to enable the children to divert from the negative aspects of their culture and make successful life choices. On a personal level my time in Zambia opened my eyes to the hardships and extreme challenges that many people face on a day-to-day basis.
“Ultimately, the project aims to provide an inspirational and sustainable sporting infrastructure from which the Zambians can expand and build a positive future. As part of their culture, the Zambian people are extremely friendly and hardworking therefore, there is huge scope to create a healthier and more productive nation. I am enormously excited about returning to Zambia this summer and it fills me with great delight to see the huge benefits that have already been gained from the project so far.
“The project would not be possible without the generous donations of equipment, kit and money that we receive. On that note I would like to say a huge thank you to all at the Newcastle Falcons for their very generous donations of kit. Throughout June and July we are holding many events in Durham to raise more funds, to which all are welcome!”
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