Rugby League Cares is so important to the community of Rugby League. It's a shame that it is a charity as the work, in my opinion, is essential to player welfare (as well as the community). Amongst the many services it offers, it offers support for player career transition after retirement- something many ex-players struggle with, mental health support in and outside of rugby, mental fitness workshops for young players, proffessional athletes and RL communities on how to access their highest potential within and outside the sport through behavioural and mental changes.

As a staff member for the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, I see how we are in a mental health crisis on a daily basis (the leading cause of death for young people age 20-34 is suicide), but the government is still not currently giving the mental health sector the priority and support it needs, so organisations like RL Cares are so important to help take care of peoples mental health, starting from a young age by delivering mental health workshops in clubs, to  super league level athletes, to community engagement for older people by providing free workshops called 'Offload'.

You can be the most successful and fit person in the sport, but still have the potential to suffer from mental health problems like depresion and anxiety (Andy Murray, Serena Williams, Tyson Fury, etc). RL Cares provides people with support that is not readily available through the NHS (waiting lists for counselling/therapy are currently +12 months long, in which a persons mental health can deteriorate and lead to suicide).

RL Cares is, therefore, is a life-saving and essential charity.

I will leave the comfort of Gods Own Country (Yorkshire) and brave the journey to the USA to cycle +500 miles from Niagra Falls to NYC in only a few days. It's gonna be tough as I am by no means a cyclist and not keen on America, but I am looking forward to it as I care about this charity. I'm even missing playing an important Betfred Super League match for the Rhinos just to do this for RL Cares. That's how much it means to me.

Please donate, if you have the means,

Tara