Max
06-03-2003, 06:09 PM
Paralysed player raising cash for kids
By Jane Beese
May 30, 2003, 14:32:00
A Black Country rugby player left paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed on him during a game has helped organise a charity extravaganza for sick children.
Tonight's show, organised by James Allport, takes place at Stourbridge Rugby Football Club - and will even feature a singing policeman. James, now 26, of Stourbridge, became paraplegic at the age of 21.
The injury followed a game at Stourbridge Rugby Football Club in September 1998 and is now being sponsored to support a charity of his choice.
The charity Sporting Chance is sponsoring James, of Oldswinford, to go to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in October if he becomes involved in raising cash for another charity.
So he started organising tonight's event, a country and western night, in aid of the Teenage Cancer charity as he knew someone whose child died of leukaemia.
More than 200 tickets have been sold for the event which will see players, committee members and friends of the club do their own versions of the songs of big country stars.
One girl is performing a Dolly Parton number and there will be songs from Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers as well as Elvis enthusiasts.
One of the organisers, Steve Newton, said: "All the singers are pure amateurs and drawn from the club.
"In real life they are nurses, company directors, barmaids and even a member of the local CID, Chas James, is doing a Black Country version of The Streak song."
The Streak was a comedy song in the 80s by Ray Stevens.
James is looking to raise about £1,000 from the event, which starts at 8pm.
The folk club from The Plough at Wollaston is doing a set in the show, and James will give a short speech.
http://www.expressandstar.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=9&num=33335
By Jane Beese
May 30, 2003, 14:32:00
A Black Country rugby player left paralysed from the neck down after a scrum collapsed on him during a game has helped organise a charity extravaganza for sick children.
Tonight's show, organised by James Allport, takes place at Stourbridge Rugby Football Club - and will even feature a singing policeman. James, now 26, of Stourbridge, became paraplegic at the age of 21.
The injury followed a game at Stourbridge Rugby Football Club in September 1998 and is now being sponsored to support a charity of his choice.
The charity Sporting Chance is sponsoring James, of Oldswinford, to go to the Rugby World Cup in Australia in October if he becomes involved in raising cash for another charity.
So he started organising tonight's event, a country and western night, in aid of the Teenage Cancer charity as he knew someone whose child died of leukaemia.
More than 200 tickets have been sold for the event which will see players, committee members and friends of the club do their own versions of the songs of big country stars.
One girl is performing a Dolly Parton number and there will be songs from Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond and Kenny Rogers as well as Elvis enthusiasts.
One of the organisers, Steve Newton, said: "All the singers are pure amateurs and drawn from the club.
"In real life they are nurses, company directors, barmaids and even a member of the local CID, Chas James, is doing a Black Country version of The Streak song."
The Streak was a comedy song in the 80s by Ray Stevens.
James is looking to raise about £1,000 from the event, which starts at 8pm.
The folk club from The Plough at Wollaston is doing a set in the show, and James will give a short speech.
http://www.expressandstar.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=9&num=33335