Chris Paterson and Craig Levein in charity auction

By DAVID FERGUSON
Published on 15/02/2013 02:11

A PRIVATE lunch with Scotland’s most-capped rugby player Chris Paterson and former Scotland football 
manager Craig Levein are among the lots up for auction at the 31st Sportsman’s Charity Dinner in Edinburgh next week.

The charity was founded 30 years ago by a group of retired rugby players including former Scotland centre John Frame, and the annual dinner hosted by the Prestonfield House Hotel has raised more than £2.6 million for a mainly small-scale charities across Scotland.

Among the charities being supported in 2013 are the Teenage Cancer Trust and Scottish Association for Mental Health, and yesterday at Raeburn Place, the venue for the first rugby international, Alan Biggar launched his Drive for Teenage Cancer Trust, supported by former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop Ian McLauchlan, and Sharon Sheridan from the Teenage Cancer Trust. Biggar is driving a Morgan sports car from the Melrose Sevens in April around the Six Nations stadiums before returning to Murrayfield.

The dinner on Friday 22 February aims to raise more than £70,000, and will be hosted by John Beattie, the former Scotland back row and father of the current No 8. The line-up of speakers include Ireland’s British Lions lock Jeremy Davidson and TV presenter Dougie Donnelly. For more information contact organiser Harry Richmond at: [e-mail]