Leeds Rhinos: McGuire and McDermott to help raise money for ill youngster's treatment

Organiser Stephen Owen, who works on Sky Sports’ coverage of rugby league, said: “A good friend of mine’s six-year-old daughter Anya Morris was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour known as a chordoma. She will have to spend three to four months in America to undergo proton therapy in order to hopefully overcome this.

“The NHS cover the cost of the flights and accommodation, but my friend Graham and his wife Karen obviously have living costs to pay for while they are there.”

The family will have to take their two other children with them to Oklahoma and though Karen will be on sick leave, Graham’s time off will be unpaid.

“As well as their daughter’s illness they also have huge concerns about finances,” Owen added: “Graham is a huge rugby league fan, from Leeds, so I came up with the idea to have a black tie charity dinner named Anya’s Ball, featuring some of my friends in the game to help raise funds for the family for when they are in America.”

The event, at South Leeds Stadium on Friday, January 29, is a 650-capacity sell-out. Rhinos legend Jamie Peacock, now at Hull KR, is also among the guest speakers.