The Logan and Gary Lions Heart Fund held its first Heart Screen Day for people involved in community Rugby League at St Benedict’s High School in Whitehaven last weekend.
The fund was set up in memory of two outstanding and committed England Rugby League Lions – Hensingham amateur Logan Holgate, who passed away last in January, and Lions’ assistant coach Gary McMahon, who had a lifelong involvement with Wigan St Judes and latterly Leigh Miners before suffering heart failure whilst with the Lions in Italy in 2022.
Rugby League communities in Cumbria and the North West have worked together to raise funds so that people involved in the community game can be heart-screened. Joining England Community Lions manager Alan Davidson, a founder member of Logan and Gary Lions Heart Fund, were Logan’s aunty and fund co-founder Lisa Powe, Lizzie Jones MBE from the Danny Jones Defib Fund, and a number of local nurses who volunteered their time to help carry out ECGs.
Lisa Powe said: “It was with enormous pride that we were able to hold our first heart screening. This screening is a way of saying 'thank you’ to the rugby league community for all they have done for me and my family since we lost Logan. Heart screening saves lives and I am inspired to continue to raise funds and provide screening in Logan’s memory.”
Lizzie Jones, the wife of Keighley Cougars’ Danny Jones who died in 2015 from an undiagnosed heart condition while playing, added: “Two very special charities came together on Saturday to make Whitehaven a little bit safer. We successfully screened 100 people and continue to make a huge difference to young people’s lives within our wonderful sport. Thank you to Lisa and her team for making the day run so smoothly and for welcoming the Danny Jones Defib fund on your special first screening day.”
Donations can be made to the Logan and Gary’s Lions Heart Fund here.
