Rugby tournament to benefit family of Marathon bombing victim

With a goal of helping out the family of Boston Marathon bombing victim Martin Richard, the North Shore Rugby Football Club has planned a four-team tournament at Hurd Stadium on Beverly on Saturday.”The family needs as much help as they can get,” club president Zachary Cook said on Thursday. ‘We’re tying in current events, the local community and a good day of rugby.”Richard, 8, was one of three people who died in the Marathon bombing attacks.”Mr. (Bill) Richard, his father, is a graduate of Salem High School,” Cook said. “He still has ties to Salem. The Salem Five Bank has set up the Richard Family Fund, which is separate from the Boston One Fund.”I think a lot of people know the story of Martin Richard, but (Bill Richard’s) wife (Denise) and the other children were really affected.”Denise Richard sustained head injuries and Jane Richard lost a leg, and underwent 12 surgeries.Cook, a Swampscott native who lives in Beverly, called the tournament an opportunity for “any little bit we can do to help out a member of our community.”The tournament is scheduled for Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The requested donation is $5, with all proceeds going to the Richard Family Fund.Cook expressed hope that Tropical Storm Andrea would not cause a postponement of the tournament, although he said, “We’re on a tight leash from the DPW in Beverly.”The rain date is Sept. 15 at the same time.For more information, visit nsrfc.com.Rich Tenorio can be reached at [email protected].