McLauchlan leads drive for injured players fund

IAN McLauchlan has called on rugby supporters across Scotland to help to remember both injured rugby players and soldiers by helping to grow the Hearts and Heroes Challenge.

The event was launched in 2009, bringing together the Hearts and Balls charity that raises funds for seriously injured rugby players, many of whom have been paralysed by the sport, and the Poppy Scotland appeal to help ex-servicemen and their families.

The Hearts and Heroes Challenge tackles a 29-mile section of the Southern Upland Way and ends with a huge celebration party at the Greenyards, the home of Melrose RFC.

McLauchlan, the new SRU President and former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop, is a director of Hearts and Balls and he helped to launch the 2011 event, to be held on 14 May next year, in Edinburgh yesterday.

He explained: "The event has really captured the imagination of a lot of people in rugby and supporters of the Armed Forces.

"We're keen to get it into the minds of people early, and into the diaries for next year, so that people can't say they didn't know when it was or didn't have time to prepare.

"Unfortunately, my knees don't allow me to take on this challenge, so I am just an enthusiastic supporter, but I am keen to make people aware of just how valuable this is for these two charities.

"Hearts and Balls is very close to my heart because it helps to play a part in supporting these injured players and their families.

"We try to alleviate some of the difficulties they face and also to ensure these players can get out into the rugby community and be involved in our events.

"The army charity Poppy Scotland is obviously also a hugely important charity in this country and deserves the support of everyone, so hopefully by launching this nice and early for next year people can make 14 May, 2011 a date to get out and support, and have some fun too."

For more information, visit www.heartsandheroes.co.uk.