Fund in memory of rugby league player on course to hit £150,000
THOUSANDS OF donors have helped raise more than £143,000 for the family of Keighley Cougars player Danny Jones who died of heart attack earlier this month.
The fundraising page on the website Just Giving which was set up in his memory had attracted close to 6,000 donations by last night.
Donations have been made by Keighley Cougars fans as well as supporters of many other rugby league clubs across the country.
Over the weekend, donations were made by fans of the London Broncos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and Castleford Tigers.
The fund was set up by the Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund.
The money will help support Phoebe and Bobby, the fivemonth-old twins of Halifax-born Mr Jones, who was 29, and his widow, Lizzie.
Mrs Jones has requested that all the money raised is put into a special trust fund for the twins.
Last week, the club stated that it wanted to raise at least £1m for the children. A deadline to raise the target has been set at October 25 this year.
In a statement, the club said it would be staging a series of mon- ey raising events over the coming months.
It also plans to organise one fundraising event each year from 2016.
The statement said: “Everyone can play their part to make sure Danny’s death was not in vain and that he is able to leave a lasting legacy for his children.”
Mr Jones died from a cardiac arrest triggered by hereditary heart disease which had not been picked up when he underwent a scan in 2014.
The half-back died in hospital in London after collapsing during a match.
His funeral will take place at St Mary’s Church in Gibbet Street, Halifax, on Friday.
The wake will follow at Brighouse Rangers ARLFC in Russell Way in Brighouse.
Keighley Cougars will open the Danny Jones stand at the club’s ground on Sunday, May 31.