KEIGHLEY'S premier community rugby league club have proved their worth to the wider community once again during this challenging period of the coronavirus pandemic.

Only just last month, Keighley Albion Rugby League club donated £615 to the Airedale Hospital Community Charity following the sales of Limited Edition Supporter Shirts.

It was part of an initiative which saw 72 junior members design and compete against each other to win the opportunity for their creation to be made into a real rugby shirt.

Following this competition, the Albion club did not rest there, immediately launching the club's ‘Mission for Manorlands’.

Sue Ryder Manorlands Hospice, in the Keighley village of Oxenhope, support people through the most difficult times of their lives, giving people the compassion and expert care they need to help them live the best life they possibly can.

Albion's ‘Mission for Manorlands’ engaged the entire club, with incentives such as sponsored walks and ice bucket challenges, with the club based challenges raising £1,000.

The six-mile sponsored walk was taken on by Di and Brody Leach, the Priestley family, Shaun and Tracy Edgerton, Sue Raistrick, Liam and Lucas Evans, James Richardson, Jack Hewitt, Sam Wilde, Codi and Isaac Denton, and Rufus Newman.

The ice bucket challenge was taken on by Cal Hudson, Amy-Rose Tiler, Benjamin Horsfield and the Spencer family - Beth, Logan, Bradley and Rob.

The club also promoted and generated awareness for several of its members embarking on their own individual causes for Manorlands.

These included Mia Hewitt (hair donation), Rocky McNulty (five mile a day in May), Connor Meegan (100k in May), Morgan Robinson (100k in May) and Josh Baker (100k in May).

Combined, these individual efforts raised a further £2,389 - bringing a total of £3,389 throughout the club to Sue Ryder Hospice.

Including the previous donation to the Airedale Trust, the overall total funds raised by the club and its members for charitable causes since the start of the pandemic now exceeds £4,000.

The Albion club itself is amateur in status, run solely by volunteers for no monetary value.

The club relies heavily on sponsorships and donations to continue to engage the Keighley community with the numerous values of the team sport of rugby league.

At the moment, they are currently unable to compete due to government restrictions, and revenue generated by the club for its own means has reduced significantly in 2020.

When considering this, the donation to charitable causes truly depicts the values of the club, and the generosity generated at this challenging time for everyone. The club appreciates the wider impact of the pandemic, and remains committed to its community values.

The club would like to pass on its congratulations to all participants, and thank all contributors throughout, saying they are indebted to your generosity, particularly in these challenging times.