Support grows for appeal

Press, 18 March 1983, Page 34

Support grows for appeal

The Canterbury, Rugby Union is very encouraged by the support it has already received for its Len Gee appeal day on April 16. Gee, the Albion and Canterbury B prop, was seriously injured in a training accident towards the end of last season. He is now a quadraplegic, although he does have partial use of his hands.

The appeal will focus on Rugby Park, where Albion

will feature in the main C.S.B. Cup game of the day there. All the gate-takings will go to the appeal and it is hoped that season ticketholders will relinquish their rights and enter through the turnstiles. “There is clearly a lot of interest in the day and I am sure we are going to get a good response,” said Mr W. A. Russell, the chairman of the C.R.F.U. committee or-, ganising the appeal, yesterday.

“It will not be confined just to Rugby Park. Collections will be made at other grounds and a number of clubs have fund-raising projects planned. Some of the country clubs, in particular, are very enthusiastic,” said Mr Russell. The St Thomas’s College first XV, of which Gee is a former member, will play a 12 noon curtain-raiser at Rugby Park and the college’s P.T.A. is lending its

support with a stall at the park. As part of the appeal, the union is also conducting a raffle. The first prize is a framed print which could hold considerable appeal to any rugby follower. There are minor prizes as well. The raffle will be drawn at a special function which the Albion club is holding on the evening of the benefit day. This will be attended by a wide range of rugby people.

Gee was seriously ill for some time after the accident last August, which occured when the Canterbury A and B teams were training together at Middleton Park. The injury has not dampened his enthusiasm for rugby and he contributed tp a coaching school last month, where he spoke of his own experience of a spinal injury. Gee is to be married in July and he is returning to

university this year with the goal of completing a commerce degree. Before his injury Gee showed a lot of promise as a rugby prop and his Albion coach, Fergie McCormick, is sure he would have gone a long way in the game. “But, more importantly, he is a fine guy and anyone who has been around him since the accident will tell you of his courage. I hope the appeal is a great success,”