The RFL Benevolent Fund’s 2012 Christmas cards which feature the inspirational Matt King OBE carrying the Olympic Torch are now available to purchase.

All proceeds from the sale of the Christmas cards go to the RFL Benevolent Fund which supports Rugby League players whose lives are affected by serious injuries sustained while playing the game.

This year’s card follows on from the Christmas cards from 2010 and 2011 which were painted by Matt King using a mouth stick and raised thousands of pounds for the RFL Benevolent Fund.

Following Matt King’s tragic injury, which occurred during a match in 2004, he was airlifted from the pitch and spent a month in intensive care before spending the next eight months rehabilitating at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

In September 2005 he was well enough to return to study full-time and on completion of his A-levels achieved ‘A’ grades in all the subjects he studied.

Based on the strength of his grades Matthew was accepted by the University of Hertfordshire to study for a law degree, the RFL Benevolent Fund helped to fund his study and he graduated with First Class Honours.

His inspirational character has led him to be a fundraiser for the RFL Benevolent Fund and spinal injuries charities. Matt was a torchbearer for the London 2012 Olympics and was awarded an OBE for his fundraising achievements in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

The limited edition Christmas cards cost £10.00 for a pack of 12.  

They can be purchased via http://www.rflbenevolentfund.co.uk/ or by contacting Tina Ward at the RFL via email at reception@rfl.uk.com or alternatively by sending an enclosed cheque to the RFL Benevolent Fund c/o Tina Ward, RFL Headquarters, Red Hall, Red Hall Lane, Leeds, LS17 8NB.

For more information about Rugby League Cares and the RFL Benevolent Fund as well as details on how to donate to this charity please visit http://www.rugbyleaguecares.org/