A Match to Remember
Donation protected
A unique 24 hour Touch Rugby charity match to commemorate and celebrate the lives of our friends Ross Mohring and Sam Peard
We are fundraising in their memory for a wonderful charity, by playing the game they both loved.
Donations can be made via our 'go fund me' page or by buying a £20 slot to play
in the match for 20 minutes.
Bit of a back story...
This amazing group of rugby players, friends, brothers have been together since under 9’s and now they're a youth age group so under 19’s. 26 of the 33 playing squad have been together since day 1, have schooled together and play for the district side and local academy side (Newport Gwent Dragons too) – so they’re a tight bunch.
Last June one of the boys was diagnosed with leukaemia which rocked the lads along with also sending shock waves through the community as the wider group of parents, siblings and supporters are all close and Sam was a much admired player/friend within the team
Sam, was tough, courageous and vowed to fight as hard as he could and did everything with a smile so the boys took to the task of challenging themselves by doing some fundraising for his family and Leukaemia UK through a number of challenges from triathlons, bike rides, runs and gym challenges and have helped raise over £17k in support. This has all been through lockdown
7 months later, on Monday February 15th they received another hammer blow when one of our players, Ross Mohring, aged 17, suddenly died. Ross was a bright, popular, energetic, polite lad who had the world at his feet. Loved by all, well-travelled across the world with his loving family, plans to become a marine biologist, excelled in most sports including representative honours for wales in cricket and Newport in rugby but on top of all that was one of the nicest kids you could meet. Open, caring, supportive and loving to those around him he would be recognised by his peers and teachers for supporting children with difficulties, coached rugby at the school where his mum worked for minority groups and was known across the team as the go to person for advice, strength if you felt low and could always raise a smile. We still are all shocked and saddened as to why Ross died that morning but his family are keen to spread the positive love he gave to us all and have adopted a phrase “live life Rossi style” so the hashtag #rossistyle is becoming more widely used and will be blazoned on our team kit next season
2 days before we put Ross to rest at his funeral I received a call from Sam Peard’s dad telling me that unfortunately the 9 months of extreme leukaemia treatment, chemotherapy, revolutionary but draining trial treatment and a transplant attempt in January hadn’t worked and the doctors had told Sam there was nothing more they could do for him. Sam, typical to his nature took this news with immense bravery, maturity and positivity helping those around him deal with this tragic news. Aged 16, Sam passed away 14 days later at home with his parents and brother. Like Rossi, Sam had the world at his feet - a beautiful soul who cared for everyone round him and spread joy, empathy and laughter wherever he was. Sam was a keen sportsman enjoying mountain biking, football (an Avid Man Utd supporter) and followed in his brothers footsteps as a promising rugby player who quickly settled into life as a whiteheads player at full back showing bravery, skill and understanding for the game
As you can imagine this has been incredibly tough for everyone involved. However the way the community pulled together to support the families, school friends, the rugby team and each other was exemplary. Hundreds lining the street to pay respect at their funerals, charities offering support in line with local education, the rugby club and everyone looking out for each other.
kids not having anywhere to socialise and meet and just the raw effects of everything else going on in these kids’ lives and then the loss of 2 amazing friends, team mates ..brothers, who were the centre of our community and rugby club, has taken its toll.
But these lads, now young men, want to respect their friends and do something BIG to recognise their journey and ensure that a positive outcome continues in their honour and to support others so with the blessing of the families we have decided on the following event and this is where we need your help...
Event: 24 hour touch rugby game
When: Starts midday Saturday 3rd July finishing midday on Sunday 4th July
Where: Whiteheads sports & social club Park View, Bassaleg, Newport, Gwent, South wales, NP10 8LA
Format: 10 v 10 for 24hours with ball constantly in play
Charity: 2 Wish Upon a Star (links below)
Idea: We will set up a ‘go Fund Me’ page for people to sponsor the youth boys as they will be in attendance for the 24 hours and will have boys on the pitch at all times.
However we know people want to support so we are going to ‘sell’ 20 min slots for £20 for everyone and anyone to join the fun. Throughout the 24 hours individuals/teams can buy and they will step in (to give our boys a rest) and for us to increase donations
Our chosen charity that will receive 100% of the donations raised is:
https://www.2wishuponastar.org/
A bit about the aims of 2 Wish Upon a Star
When a family loses a child or young adult the effects are devastating for all who knew and loved them. Our aim is to ensure that all those affected by the sudden and traumatic death of a child or a young adult aged 25 or under throughout Wales receive the important support they deserve
Ensure every Emergency Department in Wales has a suitable bereavement suite for bereaved families.
Ensure that bereavement boxes are available for families at each of these hospitals.
Ensure that immediate bereavement support is available for suddenly bereaved families.
Provide a professional counselling service for suddenly bereaved families
Provide support to individuals who witness the sudden and traumatic death of a child or young adult.
Provide staff support and training.
We are fundraising in their memory for a wonderful charity, by playing the game they both loved.
Donations can be made via our 'go fund me' page or by buying a £20 slot to play
in the match for 20 minutes.
Bit of a back story...
This amazing group of rugby players, friends, brothers have been together since under 9’s and now they're a youth age group so under 19’s. 26 of the 33 playing squad have been together since day 1, have schooled together and play for the district side and local academy side (Newport Gwent Dragons too) – so they’re a tight bunch.
Last June one of the boys was diagnosed with leukaemia which rocked the lads along with also sending shock waves through the community as the wider group of parents, siblings and supporters are all close and Sam was a much admired player/friend within the team
Sam, was tough, courageous and vowed to fight as hard as he could and did everything with a smile so the boys took to the task of challenging themselves by doing some fundraising for his family and Leukaemia UK through a number of challenges from triathlons, bike rides, runs and gym challenges and have helped raise over £17k in support. This has all been through lockdown
7 months later, on Monday February 15th they received another hammer blow when one of our players, Ross Mohring, aged 17, suddenly died. Ross was a bright, popular, energetic, polite lad who had the world at his feet. Loved by all, well-travelled across the world with his loving family, plans to become a marine biologist, excelled in most sports including representative honours for wales in cricket and Newport in rugby but on top of all that was one of the nicest kids you could meet. Open, caring, supportive and loving to those around him he would be recognised by his peers and teachers for supporting children with difficulties, coached rugby at the school where his mum worked for minority groups and was known across the team as the go to person for advice, strength if you felt low and could always raise a smile. We still are all shocked and saddened as to why Ross died that morning but his family are keen to spread the positive love he gave to us all and have adopted a phrase “live life Rossi style” so the hashtag #rossistyle is becoming more widely used and will be blazoned on our team kit next season
2 days before we put Ross to rest at his funeral I received a call from Sam Peard’s dad telling me that unfortunately the 9 months of extreme leukaemia treatment, chemotherapy, revolutionary but draining trial treatment and a transplant attempt in January hadn’t worked and the doctors had told Sam there was nothing more they could do for him. Sam, typical to his nature took this news with immense bravery, maturity and positivity helping those around him deal with this tragic news. Aged 16, Sam passed away 14 days later at home with his parents and brother. Like Rossi, Sam had the world at his feet - a beautiful soul who cared for everyone round him and spread joy, empathy and laughter wherever he was. Sam was a keen sportsman enjoying mountain biking, football (an Avid Man Utd supporter) and followed in his brothers footsteps as a promising rugby player who quickly settled into life as a whiteheads player at full back showing bravery, skill and understanding for the game
As you can imagine this has been incredibly tough for everyone involved. However the way the community pulled together to support the families, school friends, the rugby team and each other was exemplary. Hundreds lining the street to pay respect at their funerals, charities offering support in line with local education, the rugby club and everyone looking out for each other.
kids not having anywhere to socialise and meet and just the raw effects of everything else going on in these kids’ lives and then the loss of 2 amazing friends, team mates ..brothers, who were the centre of our community and rugby club, has taken its toll.
But these lads, now young men, want to respect their friends and do something BIG to recognise their journey and ensure that a positive outcome continues in their honour and to support others so with the blessing of the families we have decided on the following event and this is where we need your help...
Event: 24 hour touch rugby game
When: Starts midday Saturday 3rd July finishing midday on Sunday 4th July
Where: Whiteheads sports & social club Park View, Bassaleg, Newport, Gwent, South wales, NP10 8LA
Format: 10 v 10 for 24hours with ball constantly in play
Charity: 2 Wish Upon a Star (links below)
Idea: We will set up a ‘go Fund Me’ page for people to sponsor the youth boys as they will be in attendance for the 24 hours and will have boys on the pitch at all times.
However we know people want to support so we are going to ‘sell’ 20 min slots for £20 for everyone and anyone to join the fun. Throughout the 24 hours individuals/teams can buy and they will step in (to give our boys a rest) and for us to increase donations
Our chosen charity that will receive 100% of the donations raised is:
https://www.2wishuponastar.org/
A bit about the aims of 2 Wish Upon a Star
When a family loses a child or young adult the effects are devastating for all who knew and loved them. Our aim is to ensure that all those affected by the sudden and traumatic death of a child or a young adult aged 25 or under throughout Wales receive the important support they deserve
Ensure every Emergency Department in Wales has a suitable bereavement suite for bereaved families.
Ensure that bereavement boxes are available for families at each of these hospitals.
Ensure that immediate bereavement support is available for suddenly bereaved families.
Provide a professional counselling service for suddenly bereaved families
Provide support to individuals who witness the sudden and traumatic death of a child or young adult.
Provide staff support and training.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nick Payne
Organizer
Wales
Shannon Griffiths
Beneficiary
