By Martin Morgan

Published at 11:36, Tuesday, 29 April 2008

MARNIE Jackson is set to hit the heights with Workington Town – all in the name of charity.

Marnie Jackson: I’ll learn the routines with the girls

The club’s community marketing manager has pledged to join the club’s cheerleaders group Heroes for their routine in the final home game of the league campaign, against Gateshead in August, if it raises a pretty penny for good causes.

And the 26-year-old expects to be lofted high above the Derwent Park turf in the Carlisle-based group’s eye-catching routine.

“All our stewards kept saying they wanted me on the pitch, doing the cheerleading, before the end of the season,” said Marnie.

“If they want that, they can pay for it. I agreed to it on Sunday and I’ll go to Carlisle for my first practice this week.

“They are going to get me a full outfit. I’ll learn the basics at first, and they’ll try to get me more flexible and agile.

“Then I’ll learn the routines with the girls, how to be lifted and to lift. I usually run around the pitch once a week, and that’s as much exercise as I get.”

Marnie has been in her Town post since September last year and was previously facility and development manager at Copeland Stadium, in Whitehaven.

She is developing the club’s community-based programme throughout the area, with rugby league at its core, working in partnership with the police to target disaffected kids for training, coaching in schools and looking at obesity, disability and mental health issues.

“We are trying to get people who don’t necessarily play the sport, in to activities that involve a ball, just to get them to participate in social groups,” added Marnie.

She also runs Town’s half-time entertainment and was delighted with the response of keen young Maryport players who entertained the crowd during the recent Challenge Cup game against Hull KR.

“When they came off the pitch they got a packet of crisps each, a cream egg and a little bottle of Coke,” she said. “Their faces were beaming. That’s what makes it worthwhile.”

Marnie is aiming to attract additional sponsorship to expand Town’s community programme. For details phone her at Derwent Park on 01900 603609.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk