A Terrific Gesture

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THE Rangers Youth Department has benefitted from a cash injection totalling �£34,000 thanks to a generous donation from NARSA and a Rising Stars ticket campaign in honour of Garry Lynch.

 

NARSA - the North American Rangers Supporters Association - won the Rising Stars jackpot of �£18,000 at the recent SPL game against Motherwell at Ibrox and the organisation generously gave �£9,000 to the Rangers Youth Department through the purchase of Rising Stars tickets.

 

Last month the family and friends of Rangers fanatic Garry Lynch helped raise �£25,000 for the Rangers Youth Department after calling on fans to buy Rising Stars tickets in his memory.

 

NARSA cheque presentaionGarry sadly passed away in February aged just 52 and his family - wife Elaine, son Garry and daughter Angela - launched a campaign to sell Rising Stars tickets in his honour.

 

Following the phenomenal sales total of 45,000 tickets, the Rising Stars jackpot reached �£18,000 - a record payout for any UK football club for a half-time draw - and NARSA scooped the winning ticket.

 

American midfielder Mo Edu met Garry Lynch Jr. at Murray Park yesterday to accept the NARSA cheque for �£9,000, which was presented by Billy Ferguson and Bobby Smith.

 

The Club's Youth Department has now benefited to the tune of �£34,000 in the last few weeks.

 

Rangers Youth Academy Director Jim Sinclair commented: "Garry Lynch was a passionate and committed Rangers fan who was also regular at our Reserve and Youth Team matches.

 

"His family has created a lasting legacy in his honour with the �£25,000 donation to the Club's Youth Department and I can't thank them - and the fans who bought tickets in Garry's memory - enough for their generosity.

 

"NARSA's donation of �£9,000 is also greatly appreciated and was a terrific gesture from the supporters.

 

"On behalf of everyone at the Club, I thank them for their kindness."