Crusaders honour our founder and hero Chalky Carr
24 February 2018In a further show of solidarity and support from the rugby community we are proud to share with you that Chalky will be honoured this evening when his sons, Josh and Jamie, lead the BNZ Crusaders team out on to AMI Stadium ahead of the side’s Super Rugby clash against the Chiefs.
The Crusaders region will stand together for the Carr boys on this special night, which kicks off the 2018 Crusaders season. If you are in the UK you can view this at 6.30am on SKY Sports and the NZ kick-off it 7.35pm so tune in ahead of that.
BNZ Crusaders Chief Executive, Hamish Riach, said it was important to acknowledge the immense contribution that Chalky had made to rugby, and to celebrate the life of an important member of the Crusaders family.
“This is an incredibly sad time for the Carr family and our thoughts are with Chalky’s wife, Sarah, and the boys. Chalky gave so much to everyone during his time in rugby and we want to express our support for his family and our gratitude for all that Chalky contributed. We also feel it is important to raise awareness for the Chalky Carr Trust, which he established during the hardest of times. His selfless action in helping others through the Trust, was testament to the man he was.”
You will recall tonight's match will not be the first time BNZ Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock has supported his friend. In December, Sam shaved his head to give a push to our fundraising. It’s no coincidence that Chiefs Captain, Sam Cane, did the same in support of Chalky Carr Trust’s mission to raise money for those bound together by cancer.
Chairman of the Chalky Carr Trust, Brett Gamble, said, “For Chalky to be honoured in this way, amongst champions, shows the calibre of the man, it’s fitting. We all miss him terribly.”
In an interview that took place in October, Chalky said in his own stoic, and fiercely optimistic words: "So this is a real lesson for my boys, something that I want to leave behind. That they understand what life is like - it can be cruel, it can be harsh, it can be unfair - but you've got to rise up and grab every opportunity, and attack it if needed."
How proud Chalky would be to be honored in such a way and to see his boys representing him. Chalky continues to be remembered and leaves a legacy of helping others.
Thank you for your continued support.
