Armband support for cancer wives

James Hook, wearing one of the armbands against Italy in Rome

Wales' rugby stars wore pink armbands for their Six Nations meeting with Italy in Rome in a show of support to two women with cancer.

The wives of national squad analyst Rhodri Bown and sports photographer Huw Evans are currently being treated for different forms of the disease.

The players were also hoping to draw attention to donation websites which are raising funds for cancer research.

Player James Hook said the arm bands were a way of saying "get well soon".

Katherine Bown, 33, who is suffering from breast cancer, has set herself a fundraising target of �1m for Cancer Research UK.

Sue Evans, 52, has been diagnosed with cancer of the pleura, a form of lung cancer, and her husband has set up a website which will raise funds for the Stepping Stone Appeal, which works to support lung cancer research.

"After hearing about what both Katherine and Sue are going through the players wanted to find a way to help," said Hook, the Wales fly-half before the game.

We hope this simple gesture will show them both what they mean to us and help them through difficult times James Hook, Wales fly-half

"The pink armbands are just a small way of saying 'get well soon' to them both as well as, hopefully, encouraging fans to give money to cancer research.

"We are a close knit team and both Rhodri and Huw are very much part of that team and everything we do, so we also hope this simple gesture will show them both what they mean to us and help them through difficult times."

A growing list of players have already contributed online.

"We have been overwhelmed and humbled by the players' response and certainly did not expect a gesture of this magnitude," said Mr Bown, who has been with the international side since 2004 and will work on the British Lions tour of South Africa this summer.

"The idea is that if everyone who becomes aware of the appeal just gives as little as �2 then the million pound target will be swiftly reached.

"Katherine is determined to raise the money for Cancer Research UK and what the team is doing for us should provide a real boost to reaching that million pound target."

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