SpoonNews
Rugby Football
of Spoon's supporters
League pledge
who are passionate
league fans as well as
their support
union fans."
Both codes are
The Rugby Football League has pledged professionals in their
its patronage to Wooden Spoon and the fields with strong
Charity can now boast that it is supported community citizens in
by rugby across both codes. their areas of
Rugby legends John Bentley and Tony operation. The
Smith were delighted to win the Wooden alliance between RFL
Spoon on this occasion when they were on and Spoon is long
hand to make the announcement. John, overdue and their
who excelled in both codes of rugby and shared
Tony, the England Rugby League coach, professionalism that
took time out to lend Spoon their support can be brought to
before heading out to Australia for the bear on a range of
Rugby League World Cup last year. issues affecting children and young
John, a long time supporter of Spoon and using Rugby League people across the country will greatly
Honorary President of the Yorkshire Region, to help with violence and anti-social improve the quality and prospect of their
explained, “This is a real win for Spoon, it is behaviour in some of the most deprived lives. Spoon is looking forward to a long and
the first national charity to truly represent all areas in the country. successful relationship with the RFL and its
factions of rugby - and I hope that League Spoon Programme Director, Sally Pettipher loyal supporters and teams.
supporters will get as involved fundraising for said, "Spoon is honoured to be supported by
Spoon as Union fans have! Spoon does both rugby codes. It is crucial that the
amazing work and as I supporter myself, I am Charity works with both codes because they
thrilled that the RFL is now involved with reach different areas and different young
such a great cause.” people. There are a plethora of wonderful
The Rugby Football League is going to run role models in league that can be a beacon
a pilot Spoon Community Rugby project to young people. In addition there are many
SPOON AMBASSADORS
go from being in a good physical state to being
completely dependent on other people.“
“Before the accident I had only used the
rowing machine in the gym as part of my
warm-up. I really got into it and it helped me
Spoon is pleased to announce the addition of world who often lend their time at fundraising get my fitness back. But having something to
three new celebrities to its Ambassador events, and is extremely grateful for their focus on really helped my rehab.
Programme. The Spoon Ambassador support. However, Spoon is conscious of not “It showed me that I could be competitive
Programme has been established with the aim exhausting this tremendous goodwill and again but although starting adaptive rowing
of recruiting 25 people from the rugby world, would rather ask for a little from a lot, than ask and getting onto the water was difficult at first
25 champions of industry and 25 public figures for a lot from a few people. and very tough physically, I really enjoyed it.”
who will help Spoon celebrate its quarter Tom Aggar is the latest sporting star to pledge Tom is a great example of someone who was
century milestone over the next two years. his support to Spoon. In 2007, Tom as a virtual knocked down but came back fighting and
Spoon has built a good, long-term unknown competitor, won the World Spoon is proud to have him on board as an
relationship with the all the celebrities that Championships and went on to claim gold in Ambassador.
support the charity, in particular those from the the Beijing Paralympics in the Men’s Arms Only
rugby Single Skull. Wooden Spoon is delighted to announce the
Tom used to play 1st team rugby at Warwick appointment of Elspeth Hanson as Ambassador.
University and was a part of the Saracens youth Elspeth will be remembered as the violinist
development squad before he fell off a wall whose image was splashed across television
and broke his back in 2005 leaving him screens and newspapers around the world
paralysed. when she played the violin alongside David
As part of his rehabilitation, Aggar took up Beckham, Jimmy Page and Leona Lewis on top
rowing and competed at the 2006 National of the London bus during the Olympic Closing
Indoor Championships using the FES (functional Ceremony in Beijing 2008.
electrical stimulation) rowing machine, where 22 year old Elspeth came relatively late to
paralysed muscles are made to contract by music and the violin at the age of twelve.
applying electrical pulses through electrodes. Within two years she had played solo at the
After making a successful switch to the water Millennium Dome and then in front of an
last winter, he is now a world champion and a audience of 800 at the Aylesbury Fiddlers Rally.
Paralympic Champion. After winning a scholarship with the Berkshire
“Getting over the accident was the hardest Young Musicians Trust she went on to achieve
thing I’ve ever had to do, both mentally and great success as a soloist and as Leader of the
physically. At first it was a massive shock and I Berkshire Youth Chamber Orchestra. She has
can’t put words to how I felt at the time. You played in virtually all the major concert halls in
4 Spoonews Winter 2009
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