The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund celebrated the one-month countdown to the Rugby World Cup in style on Tuesday 9 August when over R1.1-million was raised for the victims of serious rugby injuries at its Bell’s Night of the Stars Rugby Extravaganza held at Durban’s ICC.
Rugby fans dug deep during a two-hour telethon broadcast live on SuperSport when they phoned through over R200,000 in pledges to members of the Springbok squad who once again showed their commitment to the Fund by manning the phones.
In addition to proceeds from table sales and raffles, an amount of over R125,000 was raised in an auction of sought-after memorabilia and lifestyle items, while the biggest contribution of the evening came from title sponsors Bell’s, who presented cheques totalling nearly R575,000.
“I would like to thank everyone who attended the banquet and to those fans who phoned in to pledge some money towards the Fund,” said Chairman Morné du Plessis. “We couldn’t have asked for more.”
“I would like to thank the Springbok team for their continued involvement, and especially this year, with just weeks to go until the biggest event of their lives. I would also like to express our sincere appreciation to our naming rights sponsors Bell’s, whose support has never wavered in all the years they’ve been a part of the event; media partners East Coast Radio, who helped us spread the word of the banquet and telethon; as well as SuperSport for their generous support, which consisted of a two-hour live TV broadcast and everything that goes with such an ambitious production.”
The Fund was established in 1980 by Du Plessis after his teammate Chris Burger broke his neck and later died playing for Western Province. The Fund became known as the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund when the Petro Jackson Fund, established in 1989, joined forces with the Chris Burger Fund in 1992.
Also present were numerous past Springboks as well as members of the Australian team in Durban to play against the Springboks in the Castle Tri-Nations at Mr Price Kings Park on Saturday.
“The Bell’s Old Scotch Whisky Team has been involved in raising money for the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund for many years now and the latest Bell’s Night of the Stars was another incredible chapter in our association with them,” said Dominic Malan, marketing manager of Brandhouse Whiskys. “The evening was a fantastic success and proved yet again just how passionate South Africans are about rugby and just how caring they are about those who have been injured playing the game.”
