A HUGE rugby-themed charity drive has raised more than £20,000 for Kate’s Home Nursing which cares for terminally-ill people in their own homes.

Stow Rugby Club’s #CarryMeHomeKate campaign saw an oversized ball passed 5,029 times through a four month journey.

On the way it was catapulted over Pulham’s coaches, scooped up by quarry diggers and sky-dived from 12,000ft, and was autographed by Sir Geoff Hurst, Griff Rhys Jones, Carl Hester, Jonjo O’Neill and Gloucester Rugby players.

The grand finale of the campaign - a black tie dinner, auction and raffle at the rugby club - clocked up the final £3,662.50.

The campaign, started in the run-up to the Rugby World Cup on June 13, has been Kate’s Home Nursing's biggest ever fundraiser and will fund 1,000 patient hours for Kate’s Home Nursing.

A total of 68 videos were posted on facebook.com/CarryMeHomeKate, sparking more than 40,000 views.

Donations poured in from supporters, participants, website viewers and sales of #CarryMeHomeKate wrist bands and fleeces, to add to the £11,000 raised from #CMHK’s generous main sponsors.

“The initial idea was described by Kate’s as ‘an unknown unexploded bomb’,” said #CMHK committee chairman Sean Clarke, also Stow RFC minis and juniors’ chairman and under-13s coach. “Neither Kate’s, nor us, knew what was going to happen but it did explode – and in a good way.”

“Our driving force was to involve as many people in passing the ball and the donations followed on from that. We weren’t in people’s faces asking for money, it all just came from people taking part.

“We took the ball to lots of events and then so many people were coming to us – such as primary schools, choirs, ballet classes and residential homes – saying they wanted to pass it. We ran out of time.”

Sean added that it would also go a long way to raising awareness for Kate’s Home Nursing.

He added: “One of the most heart-warming things is that, indirectly, it’s bought so many different parts of the community together in one cause.”

Kate’s Home Nursing CEO Karen Pengilley said: “We need around £280,000 a year to care for some 80 people in a 20-mile radius of Stow. This campaign will make a huge difference, not only bringing in much-needed funds but also raising vital awareness.”