Newton Aycliffe will field both a First XV and a Veterans Squad to play two fixtures at the Northern Echo Arena as part of Mowden Park’s ‘Dawn ‘til Dusk’ Charity day of rugby. The day has been organised to support Luke Bell, who is the son of Mowden 3rd XV Captain Mark (Tank) Bell. Luke has been diagnosed with High Risk Neuroblastoma which is an extremely rare form of cancer affecting less than 100 children a year.

Luke’s father Mark said: “I’d like to thank Newton Aycliffe for agreeing to play in Luke’s Dawn until Dusk event. It should be a fantastic day, with plenty to do for all the family. The support for Luke from the rugby community since his diagnosis has been unbelievable, and hopefully this event can show Luke just how many people are behind him”.

There are five fixtures arranged for this day of rugby, with Mowden 1st XV, Ladies and Minis all playing. The day will begin at 0800 and will feature a BBQ and Hog roast, tombola - including great prizes such as signed premiership rugby shirts - a raffle, cake stalls and following the final fixture, there will be a band playing in the stadium’s Cross Bar.

The Aycliffe veterans will play at 1100 in a round robin against Darlington Vets and Mowden Vets. The Aycliffe First XV will be playing as the finale to the day at 1800, against a Select Mowden XV. Both games look set to be excellent spectacles of rugby. N.A.R.U.F.C. will be travelling with a mixed veterans squad and a 20 man First XV squad which will be selected based on player performances in training. The First XV game will be played as a full intensity preseason fixture in advance of the first cup game of the season, to be played two weeks later. There will be a large crowd, and the club would encourage all our supporters to make the trip down and support both the club, and this great cause.

Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club Chairman John Whitehouse said in relation to the day: “First and foremost, everyone at Newton Aycliffe Rugby Club wishes Luke a speedy recovery. We are extremely proud to be invited to be a part of this event, and feel it will demonstrate what the rugby community can achieve when it pulls together. The phrase ‘Rugby Family’ gets used a lot, but there really isn’t a more appropriate use than an event such as this, where we come together to help a fellow player and such an important cause.”

If you cannot attend, but wish to support this great cause, a JustGiving page has been set up and can be donated to here. The final total will be split between funding activities to keep Luke occupied during this difficult time and the North of England Children's Cancer Research charity who have been funding excellent research work in the field for over 30 years.