A campaign has been launched to raise £10,000 to support Cymru’s wheelchair rugby league team as they prepare to represent Wales at the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Australia later this year.
The ‘10,000 for CYMRU’ campaign is calling on people across Wales, as well as supporters around the world, to give just £1 to help put CYMRU on the front of the team’s shirts and help cover the significant costs involved in preparing an elite international team for a major tournament on the other side of the world.
The campaign has a simple ambition: 10,000 people giving £1 to help Cymru compete on the world stage. A pound may seem a small amount, but £10,000 will make the huge difference to the team.
For the players selected to represent Wales, this is about much more than a sporting event. It is an opportunity to wear the red jersey, represent their communities and showcase the strength, determination and talent of wheelchair rugby league in Wales.
But taking a disability sport team to a World Cup in Australia comes with substantial costs.
Funds raised will help towards essential expenses including travel, training facilities, playing and off-field kit, excess wheelchair baggage, vehicle hire, insurance, spare wheelchair parts and medical supplies, all of which are vital to enabling the squad to compete safely and effectively.
The team is therefore asking communities, businesses, sports clubs, schools, organisations and individuals across Wales to get behind the appeal.
Head coach Alan Caron said: “Representing Wales on the world stage in Australia is an incredible honour, but the logistics of getting an elite wheelchair squad across the globe are immense. Every single pound raised brings us closer to making sure our players have the exact training, equipment, and support they need to perform at their best.
“A front of shirt sponsor worth £10,000 was almost over the line, but sadly they withdrew at the last minute, leaving us with a significant gap in our funding. So, we thought we’d ask the public to put CYMRU on the front of the playing shirts.
“This campaign is about bringing the nation with us. Whether you donate a pound or share the link with your family and colleagues, you’re putting yourself right there on the shirt with us, the word CYMRU will be on the front of the shirt. We want to make Wales proud, and every bit of support helps us get one step closer to that goal.”
The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup runs from Friday 30 October to Friday 13 November, with all Wales matches set to be broadcast live in Wales on Premier Sports.
Support Cymru
People can support the 10,000 x £1 = CYMRU campaign through the Crowdfunder.
