Last updated at 14:19, Friday, 11 January 2013

A Workington man is organising a charity amateur rugby league match in memory of his wife who died from breast cancer in December 2011.

CHARITY MATCH: Mark Rooke with a photograph of himself and his wife Sharon

A WORKINGTON man is organising a charity amateur rugby league match in memory of his wife who died from breast cancer in December 2011.

Sharon Rooke, 39, of Lady Court, was diagnosed in February 2010 and received treatment but was told in March 2011 that the disease had spread to her lungs.

After she was diagnosed, the self-employed childminder held events to raise money for the Henderson Suite at the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, where she received treatment. She raised more than £4,000 for the charity.

Husband Mark, 39, of Vulcans Lane, a postman, wants to hold the match at Workington Zebras’ rugby union ground on February 23 from 2pm.

He is appealing for people to come forward to play and raise money for the Henderson Suite.

Mr Rooke said: “Doing this charity match would make Sharon proud.

“She is being remembered by it but most importantly we are raising money for charity, something she enjoyed doing herself.

“It was a massive shock when Sharon died. Even though they had said the treatments could only control her cancer she was still very active and organised a lot of fund-raising events.

“Sharon was an inspiration to her family and friends never letting what she was going through get her down.

“She just wanted to be known and remembered as ‘Shaz’, the girl who always had a smile on her face.

Mr Rooke who played fullback for Westfield amateur rugby league team for about 10 years until the team split up, said he had spoken to former team mates about resurrecting the team to take on a Cumbria select side.

Mrs Rooke was a fan of St Helens rugby league club and the couple have two children Dannielle, 14, and Scott, 18, who plays for Lowca rugby league club.

Mrs Rooke worked as a housekeeper at Hall Park Hotel in Workington. She attended Westfield Primary School and Southfield Technology College both in Workington.

The couple had been together for 23 years and it would have been their 20th wedding anniversary this year.

Anyone interested in playing in the match can call Mr Rooke on 07889953550.

First published at 14:07, Friday, 11 January 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk