By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 12:10, Thursday, 08 November 2012

A Cumbrian man has personally sponsored shirts for a rugby club, in memory of his late wife.

Brian Hough, right, with first-team captain Matt Liddle

Brian Hough, 54, of Stanwix, in Carlisle, has made the decision to personally pay for new dress shirts for Creighton Rugby Club, in Carlisle. The logo on the shirts says ‘Diabetes UK, Lorraine Hough Tribute Fund’, and they were officially handed over to the club last night.

Lorraine died in March 2009 at the age of 44.

She suffered a heart attack following her fight with diabetes and related health conditions and had been waiting for a kidney transplant. In the three years since, Brian has been a strong advocate of organ donation but has also taken the charity Diabetes UK to heart.

Speaking of his decision to sponsor the rugby club shirts, he said: “I will be explaining to all of the guys what the logo means and why it is on there.

“In return, the club has agreed, in essence, to adopt the Lorraine Tribute Fund as their chosen charity this year.”

Brian, who works for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, added: “Diabetes UK will end up getting more money from the club’s fundraising events than I have put into the club in sponsorship – they will get more money than I have paid out, and the club gets a sponsor. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.”

The rugby team has already put into motion its first fundraising event. A number of the men from the club, as well as people from the Howard Arms, have volunteered to grow moustaches for Movember.

They have vowed this year to give all their charity money to the Lorraine Tribute Fund

Brian has paid for this season’s dress shirts for the members, but has already expressed his intention to continue sponsorship in the future.

First published at 11:55, Thursday, 08 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk