The Rugby League Benevolent Fund has received a magnificent £10,000 donation from the Steve Prescott Foundation to help the charity provide care and rehabilitation for Hull Kingston Rovers player Mose Masoe.

Mose is currently being treated in Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, after suffering a serious spinal injury in a pre-season game against Wakefield Trinity on January 12.

RL Benevolent Fund General Manager Steve Ball said: “This is yet another magnificent gesture from an organisation that truly understands the values of the Rugby League family.

“Since its inception, the Steve Prescott Foundation has been a major supporter of the RL Benevolent Fund and this donation will help us to provide Mose and his family with the support and care they need at this critical time.”

The £10,000 donation is in addition to a cheque for £40,000 presented to the RL Benevolent Fund at the RFL President’s Ball, which was held on the eve of the match in which Mose was injured.

Steve Prescott Foundation Chairman Mike Denning said: “The injury to Mose could happen to anyone who takes to the rugby pitch. Mose is a well loved Rugby League player and has been a fans’ favourite at every club he has played for.

“The SPF continues to support the RL Benevolent Fund in its purpose to provide relief for players who suffer serious injury, resulting in life-changing circumstances whilst playing the greatest game. We are sure the amazing people who support and raise funds for the SPF would want us to give extra support Mose and his family during this testing time.”

The Steve Prescott Foundation will make collections for Mose at the GPW Recruitment St Helens 10k Run and encourage the 2,000 runners to ‘Bring a £1 for Mose.’ The SPF has also been given permission by Super League champions St Helens to stage a bucket collection at the match against Hull KR on March 26.

The Steve Prescott Foundation has donated over £621,000 to the RL Benevolent Fund to date and is committed to continuing that support in 2020 through major fundraising events, including a cycle ride from the Eiffel Tower to Blackpool Tower; the Yorkshire Three Peaks; and Machu Picchu Rainbow Mountains Trek in October.

A Justgiving page set up to help Mose and his family has already raised over £40,000.

Rugby League Cares is delighted to announce it has secured funding to deliver the charity’s successful men’s health and wellbeing project, Offload for a further two years.

Offload has already transformed the lives of over 1,000 men in the North West of England since its launch in April 2017 and the new funding from the National Lottery Community Fund will build on those achievements.

Delivered at three professional Rugby League clubs, Warrington Wolves, Salford Red Devils and Widnes Vikings, Offload involves men learning the techniques that Rugby League clubs use to manage the mental and physical fitness of players.

Staged over 10 weeks, Offload ‘fixtures’ are delivered by former players and officials and allow men to build their own mental fitness, develop coping strategies to challenge difficult situations and learn how to recognise when people close to them might need their support.

Chris Rostron, the Head of RL Cares, said: “This is terrific news, both for the charity and for men across the North West who now have the opportunity to engage with our hugely successful Offload programme.

“Some of the feedback we have received from many of the men involved in Offload over the last two years has been little short of remarkable: Offload is not only changing lives for the better, it’s saving them as well.

“Good mental health is really important for all of us but for men, in particular, it can be difficult to seek help or advice when things go wrong.

“Offload breaks down those barriers and empowers participants to take care of their own mental wellbeing and empowers them with the tools they need to reach out to others.

“I would like to thank the three club foundations for the commitment they have shown to making Offload such an overwhelming success.”

An independent evaluation of Offload has been conducted by researchers at Edge Hill University and reveals that participation brought about increased confidence and self-esteem, improved social and emotional connections, reduced substance abuse, an increase in physical activity and enhanced working and personal relationships.

The evaluation also revealed that after taking part in Offload:

* 78 per cent of men are more aware of how to look after their health and wellbeing;

* 63 per cent are keen to make a change to improve their education, training or employment;

* 74 per cent are more able to cope with everyday lie;

* 66 per cent have a better relationship with their family

* 73 per cent feel more able to manage setbacks and challenging situations.

The Edge Hill research team was led by Professor Andy Smith, who said: “We were delighted to undertake research which will positively impact on the mental health of men from some of the most disadvantaged communities in North West England.

“We worked with the clubs and delivery staff from State of Mind Sport to design ways of effectively engaging men taking part in Offload, and to allow them to develop positive ways of coping with the mental health challenges they experience.

“How many men revealed to us that the programme has literally saved their life is quite humbling and is testimony to the hard work of everyone involved.”

One participant said: “I can honestly say Offload saved my life. That night that I went to Offload for the very first time, I was planning to do it [attempt to take my own life] again, so I can’t sing its praises enough to be honest. I wouldn’t be here without it.”

Another Offload squad member said: “I used to just turn to drugs and alcohol. That’s what I used to do every weekend, most nights, but now I don’t. Every time I feel down, I do something else that keeps me going, like exercise.”

Developed and delivered with the help of State of Mind and other agencies, Offload fixtures are free to attend and open to all men aged 18 and over.

For more information on Offload at Warrington, Salford and Widnes please click here