Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks have become the first club to purchase a life-saving defibrillator with assistance from Rugby League Cares via the RL Benevolent Fund. The Pennine League club received a grant of £500 to buy the £1,000 apparatus which can be used to help save the life of anyone suffering a cardiac arrest. The Hawks were presented with their defibrillator by Lizzie Jones, the wife of former Keighley Cougars and Wales stand-off Danny Jones who died from an undiagnosed heart condition while playing for Keighley at London Skolars last May. Lizzie is heading up the Rugby League Cares campaign to raise funds to help community and junior clubs purchase defibrillators and was delighted to be on hand for the historic handover. “On behalf of Rugby League families everywhere, I would like to congratulate Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks on their foresight in buying a piece of equipment which could help prevent another tragedy,” said Rugby League Cares General Manager Chris Rostron. “This is the first of many defibrillators that will be finding new homes at Rugby League clubs across the country and we would urge any club which has not yet got one to contact us as soon as possible, “Lizzie is doing a terrific job in helping us raise awareness of this important campaign and the support we have received from Rugby League fans has been outstanding.” Specially-commissioned Danny Jones Defibrillator Fund badges and T-shirts will be on sale at the Dacia Magic Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, with all proceeds going towards the fund. T-shirts cost £12 and can be purchased from the fanzone outside St James’ Park from noon on Saturday. Volunteers will be selling badges around the stadium throughout the weekend. Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks are the longest-established community Rugby League club in South Yorkshire and run a senior team plus junior teams from under-8s to under-15s. The defibrillator campaign has set a fund-raising target of £50,000: to make a donation please visit our Just Giving page. SOURCE
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