The Springboks will once again show their support for the victims of serious and/or catastrophic rugby injuries when they take to the field in Saturday’s Test against Italy in East London wearing the logo of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund on their shorts.
The Fund commemorates its 30th anniversary this year, and the entire Springbok squad have once again shown their commitment to the cause by volunteering to man the phones during the annual Players’ Fund telethon to be held in Johannesburg.
The hugely popular televised fundraiser forms part of the 14th annual Bell’s Night of the Stars Rugby Extravaganza, to be held at the Ballroom at Montecasino on Tuesday 17 August – four days before the Springboks take on the All Blacks in a Vodacom Tri-Nations clash at Coca-Cola Park.
The Fund, which currently looks after 102 recipients around the country, is hoping to break last year’s record of R1-million raised at the event through table sales and telephonic pledges from fans.
Table bookings are now open for what has become one of the most popular events on the South African social calendar. World Cup winner Joel Stransky will be the keynote speaker with Dan Nicholl acting as master of ceremonies on an evening where fans can enjoy an unforgettable night by socialising with their past and present Springbok rugby heroes.
“I know I speak on behalf of the entire Springbok team when I say that I’m incredibly proud to wear the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund logo every time I run onto the field for a Test match,” said Springbok captain John Smit.
“Everyone involved in rugby can be very proud of what the Fund has achieved over the past 30 years and as always we’ll be right behind them in their efforts to raise funds for those guys who have been injured playing the game they love.”
The Fund was established in 1980 by former Springbok captain Morné du Plessis after his teammate Chris Burger was fatally injured playing for Western Province.
“The Fund is something very close to my heart and this event really can make a difference to the players of all ages and levels who have to spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair,” said chairman Du Plessis. “What started out as a tribute to a fallen team-mate has grown into something special, of which the entire South African rugby fraternity can be truly proud.”
In 2009, five players died and another four became quadriplegics after being injured on the field. However, that number has sharply decreased in 2010, thanks to the partnership between the Fund, SARU and the BokSmart National Rugby Safety Programme, launched last year.
“All the behind-the-scenes hard work that the Fund and its team has put in over the past 30 years has ultimately contributed to the development of the BokSmart programme,” said Dr Wayne Viljoen, SARU’s Project Manager for BokSmart. “This great Bok side showing their support and wearing the Fund logo will hopefully continue to raise awareness of the safety issues of the game and make our job of keeping players out of wheelchairs much easier.”
The telethon will be televised live on SuperSport 1 from 8-10pm. The public are encouraged to call in to 082 235 0420 and speak to a Springbok and pledge an amount to the Fund. During the telethon, there will be live television crossovers to the banquet, allowing viewers to feel part of the evening’s activities.
“We are extremely proud of our association with the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund and the Bell’s Night of the Stars,” said Dominic Malan, marketing manager of Bell’s Extra Special Old Scotch Whisky. “We have been involved in raising funds for this charity for the past decade and the Night of the Stars is an event that not only aids the raising of these all-important funds but is a celebration of all the hard work that the Fund does to enrich communities through their charitable efforts.”
Tables cost R10,000 with Gauteng based ex-Springboks filling one of the 10 seats. To book or for more information, visit www.playersfund.org.za, phone Gail or Alison on (021) 659 5615 or email events@playersfund.org.za.
For more information about BokSmart and how you can help make the game safer, please visit www.boksmart.com or phone (021) 659 6732 .
Dan Nicholl. Could they not get ANYONE better to MC? Flippen great initiative though!
GOOD LUCK BOKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Wont be able to watch. Off in a hour to MM Stadium to watch the Brazil/Portugal game.
BOKKEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
ALSO GO PORTUGAL. Supporting Portugal today for all our Saffa Portuguese that live here.
Is this fund still looking after Max…..from the Ivory Coast, broke his neck in the world cup 1995?
@ 4man:
The last I found on Max – sad story.
In 1995, Max Brito, a dashing, 24-year-old dreadlocked winger, arrived at the Rugby World Cup full of hope for himself and his Côte d’Ivoire team.
But after just three minutes of the group game against Tonga in Rustenburg in South Africa, he collapsed under a crunching tackle from flanker Inoke Afeaki and was crushed beneath an avalanche of bodies.
Two of his vertebrae were shattered and he was left a quadriplegic.
Twelve years on, with his wife having left him and barely on speaking terms with his two teenage sons, Brito has had enough.
“It is now 12 years since I have been in this state. I have come to the end of my tether,” Brito told Le Monde newspaper.
“If one day I fall seriously ill, and if I have the strength and courage to take my own life, then I will do it.”
Brito, now 36 and virtually confined to his bed at his home in Bordeaux, can only move his head and upper body as well as one arm, albeit rather awkwardly.
“This bloody handicap,” he said. “It’s my curse. It kills me and I will never accept it. I can’t live with it and it’s going to be with me for the rest of my life.”
Brito has seen his wife leave him while he receives grudging visits from his two sons.
@ Pam Anderson:Yep…not good, unfortunately so often the case…makes one wonder at medical ethics and euthenasia. Then again you get the amazingly positive stories too, Steven Hawking, Christopher Reeves….but like most things money is the deciding equation. I look at very old people, immobilised, devoid of quality of life and think “I dont want to be like that”, at what stage is it ok to end it humanely. As rugby supporters, we can only support the fund and leave those very difficult decisions to someone else.
Users Online
Total 203 users including 0 member, 203 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm