It’s been confirmed that for the second year in a row, Super League Magic Weekend will help serve as a fundraising opportunity to combat Motor Neurone Disease.
Rugby league fans are sadly familiar with MND, a neurological condition that is currently incurable, following Leeds Rhinos’ legend Rob Burrow’s diagnosis in late 2019.
For four-and-a-half years, Burrow would help raise awareness before he sadly lost his battle but the campaign to raise awareness about the disease and ultimately help find a cure continues, with that campaign now being heralded down under after the diagnosis of South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Jai Arrow.
Friday night marked Leeds Rhinos’ MND Awareness game with the club paying tribute to Rob Burrow but also auctioning off a shirt with funds going to Arrow, and now Super League title sponsors are offering up another brilliant fundraising opportunity at the upcoming Magic Weekend.
As was the case last year, players will be encouraged to show off their celebrations when they score tries with each try celebration resulting in £180 being donated to help fight MND.
Last year’s Super League Magic Weekend saw a whopping 41 tries scored but with the competition expanding to 14 teams, it means there is a extra game so that record could be broken.
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Super League players called on to celebrate to help donate
A statement from RL Commercial confirmed the return of the brilliant initiative with £18o to be donated for every try celebration, as well as a bonus £1,000 for the best celebration over the weekend.
The statement read: “Super League players will be able to showcase their elaborate celebrations, whether it’s a one player effort or involving the whole team, re-creating a famous celebration or producing something completely new, players are being encouraged to get involved for a good cause. Betfred will donate an additional £1,000 for the best try celebration over the weekend.
“Last season, the initiative raised £10,000 for the MND Association following a stunning 48 hours of action at Super League’s Magic Weekend in Newcastle. A total of 41 tries were scored, with the resulting £7,380 pot rounded up by Betfred to £10,000.”
Dominic McDonough, Relationship Fundraiser MND Association, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the Super League and Betfred to raise money and awareness for the MND Association. It is really special to be coming together once again with the rugby community, their kindness is so important to us as we continue our fight against MND and support those living with MND and their families. Every penny brings us a day closer to a world free of MND and means so much to us.”
Rhodri Jones, Rugby League Commercial’s Managing Director said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Motor Neurone Disease Association at Magic Weekend once again this year.
“We’re very much looking forward to seeing what the current Super League players might come up with, in the knowledge that they’ll also be raising money for the MND Association.
“We thank Betfred in advance for their generosity, as we wait to see how many 180s the players deliver across the weekend.”
