Although more familiar with throwing their weight behind crunching Super League tackles, left wing Lesley Vainiko, left centre Shontayne Hape, and prop Stuart Fielden were on hand to support the latest fund-raising initiative of one of Yorkshire’s newest and fastest-growing charities.

The triumphant trio handed out prizes at the inaugural Golf Day of the Harrogate-based UK Melorheostosis Association; which used the event to raise another £7k towards its £500k target.

First prize for the day; which took place at Harrogate’s Pannal Golf Club and also featured a grand auction, went to Paul Land’s Tenant Land Partners team. Richard Waring and his team from Tomlinsons Estate Agents scooped the runners-up award, and Chippendale Plant came a creditable third. Mark Phipps won the ‘nearest the pin’ challenge, and Graham Heatles won the ‘longest drive’ award.

Melorheostosis – or Melo for short – is one of the world’s rarest bone diseases, and instructs the body to grow new bone where it’s unwanted. Joints become enlarged and deformed. Precious little is known about it – other than the fact that it’s incurable, and that surgery makes it worse. The UK charity was launched year, and will use the £500k to fund medical and scientific research.

Press contact – Martine Phipps, The UK Melorheostosis Association, National Office, PO Box 167, Harrogate HG1 5WL. Phone: 01423 709993. email: martine@melo.eu.com