Cash pours in for rugby's injured
8 June 2007
A whopping R890 000 was raised at the tenth annual Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund banquet dinner, "The Bell's Night of the Stars", at the Theatre on the Track in Kyalami, Johannesburg on Wednesday evening.
The fund pays homage to two young players who died playing the game they loved.
In 1980, Western Province fullback Chris Burger broke his neck and died in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein. This led to the founding of the Chris Burger Fund by then Western Province captain Morné du Plessis and his teammates.
Petro Jackson, a young player from Kylemore in Stellenbosch, died during a match in 1989, prompting the SA Rugby Union to establish a similar fund in his honour.
United fund
In 1992, the two Funds were united to form the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players Fund.
The Fund assists over 90 disabled rugby players on an ongoing basis and manages numerous projects aimed at preventing
catastrophic injuries, educating coaches, players, referees and training rugby medics at school and club level. It also runs the rugby SpineLine toll-free number in partnership with Netcare 911.
The Spineline number - 0860 567 567 - provides a rapid response emergency hospital transfer service for suspected spinal cord injuries resulting from rugby.
A major portion of funds raised came via the annual telethon during which the Springbok squad took pledges from the public. Lasting two hours, the telethon was broadcast live on television channel SuperSport One from a room adjacent to the banquet dinner.
Auction
Besides pledges, the auction of rugby memorabilia and other valuable donations at the event raised R170 0000 and a further R13 6000 via raffle tickets.
The glamorous banquet dinner was attended by the Springbok squad as well as a number of famous South Africans in sport, entertainment and business.
Among the guests
were a host of ex-Springboks, including Chester Williams, Joost van der Westhuizen, Wynand Claassen, Hennie Le Roux, Syd Nomis, Richard Prentis, Ray Mordt, Kevin de Klerk, Thys Burger, Piet Greyling, Owen Nkumane, Ian McDonald, Gerrie Germishuys, Christiaan Scholtz, Hugh Bladen and Krynauw Otto.
Master of ceremonies
Joel Stransky, who struck the World Cup winning drop goal in 1995, acted as master of ceremonies and kept the audience of approximately 400 guests well entertained.
Among the line-up of entertainers were diva Jennifer Jones with her performances of "Shadowlands" and "Proud", as well as the talents of South Africa's disabled dancesport champion wheelchair dancers, who performed a tempo medley of Mango Groove songs on stage.
Morné Du Plessis, the chairman of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund and the evening's guest speaker, said: "We're extremely thankful and thrilled with the results we have achieved. Each year
more and more people are embracing and supporting this initiative and, thanks to all, we have raised incredible amounts for the rugby injury cause."
The R890 000 raised was an increase of R170 000 over 2006. It brought the total amount of money raised since the inception of the banquet to R4 037 317.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
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