Jonathan Humphreys will have the support of the whole region with him when he attempts to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in September, after it was confirmed today that funds raised at next week's charity 20/20 game will go to the 'Captain's Climb' fund.
‘Humph’ will join 14 other former Wales captains, including ex-Ospreys Scott Gibbs, Mark Taylor and Paul Thorburn, as they attempt to conquer the Tanzanian mountain in aid of the Velindre Cancer Centre Stepping Stones Appeal, and it has been agreed with Mumbles Cricket Club that proceeds from the evening will be donated to his tally for the climb.
The Captain’s Climb is the brainchild of sports photographer Huw Evans, whose family has recently been affected by lung cancer - the disease for which the appeal provides research funding - with the aim of raising £1million for the cause. A party of 55 people, including Evans himself, will set off for the summit on September 6th.
Speaking after it was confirmed that the funds would be donated to the Captain’s Climb, Humphreys said:
“I’m delighted that the Ospreys and Mumbles Cricket Club have agreed that the Captain’s Climb will be the beneficiary of this year’s 20/20 match. Along with my colleagues who will be attempting the climb with me, I’ve been training hard to ensure that I’m in good condition for the challenge, which will be as tough as anything we ever faced on a rugby pitch, if not tougher.
“It’s a fantastic cause which I’m honoured to be representing. Lung cancer is a dreadful illness and anything we can do to help fight it is welcomed. The funds raised at the cricket match next week will certainly be put to good use.”
An Ospreys XI will take to the field at Mumbles’ picturesque Marespool Ground at Plunch Lane on Friday 6th August, with the first over to be bowled at 4.00pm, weather permitting. Admission is just £2 (U16’s free).
Huw Evans said:
“It’s fantastic news that the Ospreys and Mumbles Cricket Club have agreed that funds from their cricket match will go towards the Captain’s Climb. The support that we’ve had since launching our appeal is incredible, from the former captains themselves, the wider rugby community and the general public, and I’m delighted that the Ospreys are supporting the charity in this way.
“It’s going to be a real challenge next month, but it will be a lot easier knowing the level of support that we’ll have back home.”
Ospreys Managing Director, Roger Blyth, added:
“Last year’s fixture was a huge success, it was a fantastic evening out and over £1,500 was raised for charity. We’ll all be looking to repeat that, with Jonathan’s Captain’s Climb fund benefiting from the event. He has made a big commitment in agreeing to climb Kilimanjaro and he has the full support of everybody at the Ospreys, which is why we have been able to arrange that proceeds from the night go to that cause. Hopefully, we’ll see plenty of Ospreys fans turning up to not only enjoy the cricket but also, to help him raise some much needed funds.”
Anyone wishing to back Jonathan and donate to the Captain’s Climb can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/captainhumphreys