LEDBURY Rugby Club has launched an eye-catching new kit, to celebrate its links with a Hereford charity and to put its community heart on show.

The aim of the new kit, sponsored by Hereford Pension, Investment and Mortgage Centre, will be to raise the profile of The Little Princess Trust while promoting the fact that the Hereford cancer charity offers its services to children of all genders.

This is because the shirts proudly carry the charity’s name.

Roger Bateson, chairman of Ledbury Rugby Club, said all his fellow committee members, players and coaching staff were “immensely proud to help in raising funds for those less fortunate”.

He added: “To be linked with a local charity like LPT, that has an increasingly global reach for young people in retaining a sense of normality throughout their cancer treatment, as well as pioneering the search for cures, is core to the community efforts of the Club.

“We wish all involved at LPT the best of success, but more importantly wish all those in need of their services a speedy recovery.”

Under 16s hooker Jay Smith lent the charity support with a sponsored haircut raising £2,300 for the charity. His hair will go towards making a wig, as The Little Princess Trust as it seeks to meet a demand for longer wigs.

The money raised will not only pay for the making, styling and fitting of a wig but will also help The Little Princess Trust fund vital research into childhood cancers.

Phil Brace, Chief Executive at The Little Princess Trust, said he hoped the partnership with Ledbury Rugby Club would help to end one of the commonly held misconceptions about the charity.

He added: “We hope the new away shirts worn by the men’s first team will not only boost our profile but also highlight the fact that our wigs are for all children”