John Sullivan Trophy and CALM

[nkpom]

In what were once normal times the Broncos Championship fixture against York City Knights on Sunday 19th July would have seen the teams taking part in the fourth staging of the John Sullivan Trophy (https://www.lbsa.org.uk/john-sullivan-trophy-2020/). The “Sully” is a joint initiative between the Broncos and the Supporters Trust LBSA, and we’ve decided that suspension of the game will not stop us highlighting the issue of young male suicide and supporting the Sullivan family’s chosen charity CALM – the Campaign Against Living Miserably (https://www.thecalmzone.net).

Sully was a member of the Club’s Academy for many years, and his tragic suicide in 2014 came as an awful reminder of the struggles former professional players can have coming to terms with post Rugby League life. Since the inaugural Sully was played against Dewsbury Rams in 2017, we have raised around £1,300 in support of CALM.

We’ve set up a Virtual Bucket Collection of £4 at https://lbsa.sumup.link/sully-2020, and a couple of PayPal Donate buttons are now on social media. All transaction and other charges related to donations will be paid by the LBSA so that every penny will go to CALM.

The scourge of young male suicide will only have been exacerbated during this most challenging of times; we can do our little bit in showing the Rugby League family's concern for young men's health and wellbeing; whether Rugby League players or not.

[nkpom]

I was hoping we'd raise £150 this year for CALM but we are already around £190 with a week to go! With your help we can double this and make a real statement about the values of the LBSA, Broncos supporters, and the wider Rugby League community.

[nkpom]

We've donated £416 to CALM today in the name of the John Sullivan Trophy despite the season being suspended. A magnificent effort from LBSA members and the wider Broncos family, supporting an excellent organisation addressing young men's suicide in the name of a fine man who graced our shirt for many years.