14 of the Players’ Fund recipients and guests watched the Springboks take on the All Blacks from the comfort of their wheelchairs in a friendly and accessible rugby suite at Newlands.
The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund supports rugby players in SA who have sustained serious and life changing injuries while participating in the game. Currently there are 107 former players who turn to “Rugby’s Caring Hands” for help and hope.
View from the Players’ Fund Suite 301
Through research currently taking place, it has become overwhelmingly evident that the quality of life of a person living with disabilities in SA, is greatly improved by being part of a community, feeling accountable to an organisation, having a support base and a network of people checking in and caring for them. All these factors and traits were evident as 14 former players from all walks of life met at Newlands on Saturday 7 October to watch the highly anticipated match between arguably the world’s top two rugby teams.
Western Province Rugby has generously provided suite 301 in the Danie Craven stand to the Players’ Fund for the last 37 years, in a show of true support of rugby enthusiasts living with mobility challenges. Over this time it has been the vantage point for many Players’ Fund recipients as well as visitors who are wheelchair bound who wouldn’t otherwise be able to enjoy the spectacle of a live rugby match.
Winner Delvian Samuels with Kim McBain
Not only was the match tightly contested with a show of true passion from the players in green and gold, but the support and friendly atmosphere in suite 301 was something very special. This was made even more colourful with a “funky green & gold head gear” competition with the prize going to Players’ Fund recipient Delvian Samuels.
As on any regular rugby match day, the staff hosting the suite graciously accepted a donation of R1000 from the neighbouring Albatross Suite who had collected bets from their guests and as no one had guested the final score line with just one point between the two teams, the Fund was the chosen beneficiary of the pot.
As the year and the local rugby season winds down, Rugby’s Caring Hands would like to thank WP Rugby most sincerely for their ongoing support. They would also like to appeal to all who are reading this, to consider making a donation to the Players’ Fund to ensure that none of these players are ever left without the support of this 37 year old organization.
Banking details below:
Account Name: Chris Burger Petro Jackson Fundraiser
Bank: Standard Bank of SA
Branch Code: Rondebosch 025009
Account Number: 071 499 776
Reference to use for an EFT Payment: Name and Telephone number