Isle of Man Vagabonds Rugby Union Football Club have recently donated £1,500 to their neighbours Hospice Isle of Man. The proceeds were raised through the production and sale of a nearly nude double-sided calendar featuring members of both the male and female playing squads.
 
Terri Cook of Hospice was presented with the cheque by Vagabonds Chairman Noel O’Connor and 1st XV Captain Leigh Kennaugh. “Whilst something a little different, it wasn’t too difficult to persuade some of our so-called shy Club members to strip down to their birthday suits and bare all for a good cause and a big thank you goes out to all who took part. Special thanks also needs to go to Sure Cable & Wireless, our 1st XV main sponsors, who were heavily involved in organising it all and very generously covered the costs of design and production and put it on sale in their shops” Leigh commented.
 
Noel O’Connor further said “Now being situated up at Ballafletcher, next door to the Hospice, we were very keen to focus our charitable efforts on our neighbours and enhance our relationship with them, especially given the support that Hospice has provided to numerous members of the Vagabonds family both recently and over the longer-term.”
 
Over £1,400 was raised for Hospice from the sale of the Calendars with an additional contribution being made by Vagabonds in the memory of longstanding club stalwart Gerry Dawson who, along with his family, recently received much appreciated dignified care and support from Hospice.
 
“The Vagabonds Calendars for Hospice is just the type of fun charitable initiative Gerry would have spearheaded in his day so it’s fitting we were able to do this in his memory” added Noel.