A charity lunch to celebrate greatness and fundraise for Youth Hub Christchurch
The Crusaders will induct three new legends of the game into our Hall of Fame at a charity lunch on Friday 24 May.
The Hall of Fame is the signature event of the year for the Crusade with Heart Foundation, set up in 2022 to ensure the Crusaders strive to have an ever-increasing positive impact on the community we are a part of.
In 2023 we held the inaugural Hall of Fame charity lunch, inducting Todd Blackadder, Justin Marshall and Wayne Smith. This year it will once again celebrate greatness and recognise the huge achievements and contributions of four new inductees. Last year the event also raised more than $130,000 for I Am Hope and will once again be raising money for a worthy cause in 2024.
The charity lunch will take place at Te Pae Christchurch on Friday 24 May, the day before our clash with the Blues at Apollo Projects Stadium, with more than 700 alumni, commercial partners and Crusaders premium members invited to attend.
This year our Hall of Fame charity partner is Youth Hub Christchurch, who are building New Zealand’s first purpose-built Youth Hub complete with supported housing facilities to improve and maintain youth mental health. The Hub is designed to help all young people, especially those who have had a rough start in life, break the intergenerational cycle of adversity and give them the skills, support and confidence they need to thrive.
The Hub is currently under construction in central Christchurch, with Stage One expected to be open gradually from the end of 2024.
“It takes a village to build a Youth Hub and we’re so grateful for the Canterbury community for believing in what we are trying to build for our young people,” said Dame Sue Bagshaw, Chair of the Youth Hub Trust.
Colin Mansbridge, Crusaders CEO said events like the Hall of Fame formed a huge part of the club’s culture and identity.
“Crusading with heart and showing genuine care for our community by raising much-needed funding for a worthy cause is a big part of our commitment to being more than just a sports team,” Mansbridge said.
“The Hall of Fame is of course also a fantastic chance to celebrate the history and success we’ve had at the Crusaders over the years, while recognising those who have made significant contributions to who we are.”
