BATLEY Bulldogs are celebrating the outstanding work of the sport’s official charities Rugby League Cares and the RL Benevolent Fund with a series of exciting activities at next Monday’s televised home fixture against Leigh Centurions.

RL Cares and the RL Benevolent Fund support thousands of people of all ages across the Rugby League family every year and the Bulldogs are proud to be involved in the celebrations of two worthy causes.

The charities were incredibly supportive to Batley’s players and staff following the tragic death of Archie Bruce in 2019 and have been there for Archie’s family ever since.

On Monday 16th May, fans will get the opportunity to find out more about the work of RL Cares and the RL Benevolent Fund when Leigh visit the Fox’s Biscuits Stadium for the eagerly-anticipated Betfred Championship fixture, which is being screened on Premier Sports.

The charities’ activities will focus around a specially-branded double decker bus featuring an interactive heritage display on the upper deck and a pop-up barber shop on the lower deck manned by former Batley player Tom Hemingway.

Tom now runs his own successful barber shop business, the Lions Den at Birstall, after retraining with support from RL Cares and will be offering free haircuts to fans before the game.

Batley-born Francis Stephenson, the Transition Manager at RL Cares, current England women’s player Amy Hardcastle, who now works with RL Cares delivering their acclaimed health programme, and ex-Bradford and New Zealand star Robbie Hunter-Paul will also be on the bus to share expert advice on how fans can best manage their mental fitness.

Visitors to the bus will also have the opportunity to watch a fantastic new video presented by RFL Chair Clare Balding detailing the work of the two charities and how they are making a positive impact to the lives of people young and old across Rugby League communities.

Face painters will be on hand to give younger fans an exciting new look and stilt walkers will provide entertainment ahead of kick-off at 7.45pm.

Batley chairman Kevin Nicholas said: “We are delighted to help showcase the work of two charities which do so much good across the sport and I am sure our fans and the visiting Leigh supporters will really enjoy the activities we have planned.

“The scale of the work that RL Cares and the RL Benevolent Fund do will surprise many people and our televised fixtures is the perfect opportunity to celebrate that work.”

RL Cares and the RL Benevolent Fund are independent charities that rely on fundraising, grants and donations to keep enhancing people’s lives. To support the work of RL Cares visit www.justgiving.com/rugbyleaguecares; to support the work of the RL Benevolent Fund visit www.justgiving.com/rfluk

For more information about the sport’s two charities, please visit www.rugbyleague cares.org