Impact Report 2023

Att: #SupportSquad

We are pleased to announce the release of our latest Impact Report. In 2023, R2 800.000 was disbursed towards the ongoing care of our catastrophically injured rugby players. Together, we’ve undeniably achieved remarkable feats. As you peruse the contents of this report, know that YOU, our #SupportSquad, have played an essential role in this and have contributed significantly to improving the lives of your fellow South African.

Thank you, a thousand times. Read here: Impact Report 2023.

Rugby’s red carpet rolled out for UK legend – Matt Hampson

On Friday 18 January 2019 the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund hosted long standing friend in rugby, Matt Hampson from the Matt Hampson Foundation in the UK, as well as five of his travelling companions at a lunch at Yonder Hill Wine Farm in Stellenbosch. Matt Hampson was seriously injured in a rugby training session in 2005 whilst playing for England U21. This left him paralysed from the neck down, reliant on a ventilator for breathing and requiring 24-hour care. Despite serious barriers to travel and true to his foundation’s slogan, Matt has made the trip to South Africa to do just that – GET BUSY LIVING. The event was attended by newly elected Chairman of the Players’ Fund, Jean de Villiers as well as other members of the board, recipients and staff of the Players’ Fund, friends and representatives from SA Rugby.

Since Matt’s tragic injury in 2005, he has been determined to live as normal a life as possible, encouraging all in similar circumstances to his and whom make use of the services of the Matt Hampson Foundation, to GET BUSY LIVING. An overseas trip to South Africa has been testament to this motto. Matt’s first visit to South Africa kicked off with a bush and wildlife safari experience in the Eastern Cape which was followed by a road trip along the magnificent garden route to Cape Town. The Players’ Fund saw his visit to South Africa, as a great opportunity to show him and his travelling companions some true local hospitality, good food and wine and introduce him to all those who play the role of Rugby’s Caring Hands in South Africa.

The love of rugby transcends national borders and so do the relationships made as a result of international collaboration efforts over many years. The Players’ Fund has crossed paths with the Matt Hampson Foundation on two occasions in the past. The first was in 2011 when young Herve Iradukunda (16), who had spent 14 years in exile in SA suffered a spinal cord injury in an accident just two days before he was due to join his family who were emigrating to France. The Matt Hampson Foundation with support from the Players’ Fund were able to reunite the family in France and have since been kept updated on Herve’s positive and uplifting story.

The two organisations again worked together in 2015 when George Robinson (17) sustained a spinal cord injury while playing rugby in Cape Town during a school rugby tour from Stamford, England. Once medically stable after care in an intensive care unit in Belville, a medical flight was arranged and George returned home to his family thanks collaboration in the field of care across borders.

The afternoon was graciously hosted by former deputy chairman of the Players’ Fund – Fikkie Naude at Yonder Hill Wine Farm on Friday and was an informal and heart-warming get together where those close to the Players’ Fund had the chance to meet Matt and hear about the fundraising success of the Get Busy Living Rehabilitation Centre. In 2018 the Matt Hampson Foundation was able to construct a world-class rehabilitation centre in Burrough on the Hill, Leicestershire. Matt describes the centre as “a place for our beneficiaries to visit and receive physical rehabilitation, peer support but more importantly emotional support and a place to call home.”

New chairman of the Players’ Fund, Jean de Villiers first met Matt when he played for the Leicester Tigers in 2015. He relayed how momentous it was meeting up with Matt again; “Having taken up the chair at the Players’ Fund it is even more obvious to me how rugby has a duty of care for those whose lives are changed on the field. Matt has not only extended this duty to fellow rugby players, but also to sportsmen and women from other sporting codes after life-changing injury. Matt’s tangible love for “Getting Busy Living”, for people, coupled with his determined spirit is truly remarkable. We are proud to have this association and have formally recognise this relationship by making Matt an official Friend of the Players’ Fund.”

To further imprint this memorable afternoon into everyone’s memories Matt handed over a cheque of £5000 to the Players’ Fund which will be used to assist the 108 recipients of the Players’ Fund with mobility equipment and other necessities to improve their quality of life.

Summed up by General Manager of the Players’ Fund, Gail Baerecke; “In the year of a Rugby World Cup, this event illustrates the global link that a sport can create with the foundations being firmly rooted in honest friendships, care and the ethos of camaraderie so evident in those involved in rugby. We are lucky to be able to call this work.”

Chairman’s Industries sponsors a much needed upgrade for Gerhard van der Wath

As a result of a generous donation pledged by wheelchair suppliers – Chairman’s Industries, made at the BrightRock Play the Bounce Springbok Braai held last year in June, we were able to provide a much needed replacement manual wheelchair to our recipient Gerhard van der Wath from Clanwilliam.

Gerhard very happy after receiving his new light-weight chair.

Gerhard sustained spinal cord damage in 2011, following a rugby injury whilst playing for his school’s first team – Augsburg Agricultural Gymnasium in Clanwilliam, about 2 hours north of Cape Town. He was 16 at the time and in grade 11. Following the accident, his school, family and close knit farming community rallied around him providing support and encouragement and before long he was back and school, this time in a wheelchair and more determined than ever to keep pushing forward. His goal was to complete his schooling and continue with his “new normal”.

Gerhard completed schooling in 2012 and is studying Computer Science and Math through Unisa. He also still finds the time to help out with coaching the netball team at his old school which is next door to his home.

Thanks to this show of kindness from Chairman’s Industries Gerhard has a new set of wheels and is incredibly happy with his long-awaited upgrade! The new state of the art light weight manual wheelchair, he says has literally “changed his life”. He can now self-propel more easily and get around quickly and independently.

We are eternally grateful for all our longstanding partners and sponsors who enable the Players’ Fund to play the role of Rugby’s Caring Hands.

Tsogo Sun renewes commitment to Rugby’s Caring Hands

Tremendous support shown by Tsogo Sun to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, the life-line and partners to 107 seriously injured rugby players in SA

Recipients of the Players’ Fund once ran onto the rugby field, with their lives changed in an instant as a result of missed tackles, collapsed scrums and more often than not – bad luck. Most of the recipients, have never been able to run again since their injuries with their lives filled with the challenges that living with a disability has become synonymous with.

The Players’ Fund partners these players, from field-side, to their hospital bed, through the rehabilitation process and home to their families! A team approach is essential to make the transition back to “normal life” as smooth as possible and the Players’ Fund joins the team of every seriously injured player in SA.

In order to perform this role, the Players’ Fund also relies on a team approach to ensure that all funds raised are used to provide hope and help to the 107 recipients where they need it most. For the last 6 years Tsogo Sun has been an integral partner and supporter of the Players’ Fund. The premium hospitality, gaming and entertainment brand supports many sporting codes, including the Springboks. As the Players’ Fund is the official charity of the Springboks, they are immeasurably grateful for the continuation of this generosity to those rugby players in SA who will never get the chance to run out onto the field for their country – the recipients of the Players’ Fund.

In January, Tsogo Sun renewed their commitment to the Players’ Fund by extending the 6-year old agreement for another year. This value-in-kind sponsorship provides bed-nights to the staff, trustees and recipients of the Players’ Fund which is essential in order to keep the national reach possible. Tsogo Sun also has a variety of venues which are well suited to hosting the annual Players Fund fundraising events.

The 2017 Players’ Fund fundraising event with the Springbok team and management, hosted by Café Cru at the Southern Sun Montecasino hotel, Fourways, took the form of a traditional South African braai and was called the BrightRock Play the Bounce Braai with the Boks .

Keep an eye out for news about this annual fundraising event which is scheduled to take place in October this year, in the build-up to the All Black test match scheduled to take place in Pretoria on Saturday 6 October.

COO of Tsogo Sun – Ravi Nadasen receives a lucky draw prize from Lionel Mapoe at the 2017 braai with the Springboks

Dreams can come true

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The Springboks singing the National Anthem
As the ultimate Springbok fan, there is not much better than being there in the flesh to watch your national team run out in the green and gold and take home a win. This lifetime experience was realised by two Players’ Fund recipients – Sikhosonke Mani and Vuyo Mashologu who are both from PE, as the Springboks took on the Irish in the second of the three test series at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday 18 June 2016. This nail-biting match ended in the Springboks taking home the 32 – 26 victory! Following the final whistle, Sikhosonke and Vuyo were treated like royalty, as our friends at SA Rugby arranged for them to be greeted personally by most of the Springbok players and coach. An experience which left them grinning from ear-to-ear.

Sikhosonke was injured in 2009 at the age of 21 and Vuyo sustained his injury in 2006 when he was 20 years old. Both are avid rugby supporters and live at the Cleary Park Cheshire Home in Port Elizabeth where they have become great friends. They are currently studying Business Management at Dower College. On completion of this course they plan to further their studies with honours and practical work-place experience, ultimately entering the working world by proving that their abilities far outweigh their disability.

The strength and determined attitudes of these two young men, lead to the Players’ Fund willing to provide them with the opportunity to explore a little more of the country and to experience a bit of adventure.

This would not have been possible without a number of fantastic people coming together to support Rugby’s Caring Hands.  SA Rugby sponsored the test tickets and Tori Gardner (Players’ Fund – Marketing and Events Coordinator) and her husband were the support on the ground when Sikho and Vuyo flew into Johannesburg on the Friday before the test. The QuadPara Association of South Africa went above and beyond and sponsored their fully-accessible accommodation at the Dave Lewis Lodge in Edenvale. This included breakfast and the assistance of a well-trained carer for their stay. QASA was also instrumental in providing a driver available for all land transfers.

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Robyn, Sikhosonke, Tori and Vuyo at the game
A weekend such as this may seem easy for those frequent fliers out there, but try adding a few motorised wheelchairs to the mix and the fact that Vuyo and Sikhosonke both need assistance from experienced carers; and it becomes apparent as to the importance of having a great team behind the scenes, enabling everything to run smoothly.

Vuyo wrote “I want to say thanks to the Chris Burger Player’s Fund, you really made our weekend very special! We are very grateful to have you by our side.”

It is thanks to support from the rugby community which allows such special occasions to happen so we’d like to thank everyone who supports the Players’ Fund in both small and large ways. We would also like to encourage you to consider donating to the Players’ Fund so that opportunities like this become possible for more of our promising recipients.

View the full gallery of their trip here!

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