A NURSE, a pilot and a butcher joined four of Gloucester Rugby’s brightest lights to launch a major fundraising campaign.

Community stalwarts dressed in the robes of their various professions joined Countryfile’s Adam Henson and players Mark Atkinson, Jacob Rowan, Tom Savage and local lad Elliott Stooke at Stow RFC last week to launch #CarryMeHomeKate.

The charity campaign aims to raise £20,000 for Kate’s Home Nursing which provides care for the sick and dying in their own homes.

Organisers have tasked businesses, community groups and sports clubs with passing an oversized rugby as many time as possible before the Stow RFC’s Family Fun Day on September 6.

 “Like so many things it started in the pub,” said campaign committee chairman Sean Clarke.

“We wanted to do something for the Rugby World Cup and we thought about a world record for passing a rugby ball but there were too many rules.

“We decided to set our own record.”

The giant ball, adorned with local sponsors, has already passed through workmen in a quarry and a team of ballerinas during its three week journey.

“We want wild and wacky ideas which involve as many different people as possible,” Sean said.

“It can be any individual or club – from beekeepers to wine drinkers; groups – from mums and toddlers to old people’s homes; and public bodies such as firefighters or council workers.”

Every time the ball is passed it is recorded using a counter and the person who can guess how many times the ball has been passed by the end of its journey will win an undisclosed prize.

However, Sean did reveal the number of passes was “already in the thousands”.

The campaign has so far raised £14,000 or the £20,000 target.

Under 20s World Cup winner and Gloucester Rugby second row Elliott Stooke jumped at the chance to help.

“I started playing at Stow Rugby Club when I was 13 or 14 and when I heard what they were doing it was an easy decision to get involved – it’s a really great charity,” he said.

 Kate’s Home nursing needs £275,000 a year to keep providing invaluable care to people in their own homes through the last stages of illness.

Sean’s father received palliative care from Kate’s before he passed away in 1998.

 “Around Stow everyone knows someone who has been helped by Kate’s,” he said.

“They don’t just do wonderful work looking after the patient but also support the family, rather like osmosis, just by being there.”

To donate, buy a wristband or make a donation at justgiving.com/carrymehomekate or text RUGB50 followed by £1, £2, £5 or £10 to 70070.

Watch the ball’s progress and see your video on facebook.com/CarryMeHomeKate.