With a week to go to the Leeds Rhinos Foundation 10-Year Anniversary Dinner on the 21st October, compare for the evening Jamie Jones-Buchanan is looking forward to the event that marks a decade of achievement for the charity he has passionately supported throughout his career
The event to be held at Leeds Town Hall, will be hosted with Leeds City Council to mark ten years of success for the charity and will also provide a Civic welcome to the touring New Zealand team who will be in the city to take on Leeds Rhinos two days later.
Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who is a long term trustee for the Leeds Rhinos Foundation commented on the significance of the event:
“It’s great that we are celebrating such a special event in partnership with Leeds City Council and Child Friendly Leeds at the Town Hall.
“I’m a big Leeds Fan and Leeds lad, and it’s a real honour to have the event Leeds Town Hall, I remember our Golden decade dinner at the end of last year there, which was fantastic and will stick in my memory for many years and obviously to celebrate the Leeds Rhinos Foundation in that manner with the guests we have got coming is brilliant.”
To add to the spectacle on the night, people in attendance will also get the chance to see the premier of the new Leeds Rhinos Foundation short film produced by Brass Agency showcasing the community work going on in the city under the charity’s ‘Changing Lives Through Sport’ banner.
“Brass have done a fantastic job with the video, I have seen a little glimpse of it, not the final edit, but it was a real honour to be part of it. I think it was quite apt really, based on the year that I’ve had in terms of injuries on the pitch, I’ve spent most of the time off it. I suppose it adds a fair bit of similitude to the fact that we do get knocks and injuries and we go through periods of adversity and a bit of suffering, but actually when you contrast that with what people in society are going through it’s nothing but as a professional sports club and as professional players it’s our duty and honour to help people recover, grow and re-establish themselves.”
Another highlight for the evening will come in the form of special guest speakers including; former Rhinos boss Brian McClennan, current New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney and businessman, fundraiser and rugby league supporter Sir Peter Leitch, affectionately known as 'The Mad Butcher', will be guests of honour at the dinner and they will be joined by members of the Leeds Rhinos and New Zealand playing squad.
“I think we are all looking forward to the game down here at Headingley Carnegie Stadium that weekend, getting Brian McClennan back who obviously spent a lot of time here and coached me and influenced a lot of us at the club and took us to some finals, he is a great fella and I really look forward to meeting our guests.” Jones-Buchanan added.
In operation since 1995, Jones-Buchanan has seen the growth of the Foundation first hand over his long career at the club, where the Leeds-born Second Row graduated through the Rhinos Academy system before making his debut in 1999 and urges people to get involved in the fundraising night:
“The Foundation has just grown exponentially and there is some great work going on, it’s great to recognise the people who have been involved in that so far and god willing we will keep inflating, it’s about getting behind the people of Leeds and helping them to be all that they can be and Headingley Stadium has just been a huge hub in helping facilitate that this past decade.
“I think it’s really important to get down there if you can get a ticket, it will be a fantastic night, they always are at Leeds Town Hall, we have some great competitions, Jet2 are giving a holiday away so it might only cost £10 for a lovely holiday if you are lucky, a lot of sponsors are getting involved and it’s a great way to see what our foundation does and what this great city does for its people.” said Jones-Buchanan.
Leeds Rhinos Foundation Director of Operations Bob Bowman, who is co-hosting the event in the Victoria Hall commented on the overwhelming support for the event on the 21st October:
“We are really pleased with the people who have come on board to support us for the event, its great thanks to organisations such as Gibbs and Dandy, Grosvenor Casino, Sacco Mann, Barclays Bank and our headline sponsor for the night is Leeds City Council under their Child Friendly Leeds agenda, so thank you very much to all of them, they are doing a great job for us.
Although table seating is now sold out for the event, people wanting to attend the event can do so through a £10 donation to the Leeds Rhinos Foundation for a seat on the balcony level of the Main Hall.
Bowman added:
“Tickets are still available, there is not many left for table attendance, as I think we are going to be announcing a sell-out but we are opening up further area of the hall where for a £10 donation to the foundation you can come along to the balcony of the Victoria Hall and see everything taking place including a tremendous new video for the Foundation, a tribute to Kevin Sinfield and more.”
The video of the interviews with Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Bob Bowman is available below: