In year 1 the Players 4 Players guys raised R20 000.00, last year they got to R45 000.00, and this year they were hoping to get to the magical, yet elusive, R50 000.00 mark … Not only did they make it, but took things to a whole new level, raising R120 000.00 for the Players Fund!
The 2012 Players 4 Players fundraiser – a fun barefoot bowls day in aid of the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Fund – took place on Saturday the 24th of November – and was a stratospheric success!
Again it took place at the Mowbray bowls club – who have been amazing hosts, and will hopefully remain as such despite a fairly raucous celebratory party after the narrow Bok win that might or might not have involved raw eggs being used as shampoo on a few unsuspecting troops!
The day dawned fairly wet, but that could not dampen spirits as teams rolled in from 10h30, dressed to the nines. It was magnificent seeing Ikey legends Adrian Kritzinger and Wes Chetty with angel wings and make up on, WP scrummy Nic Groom with more lipstick on than Dolly Parton, the Patsy’s looking “Absolutely Fabulous” and the DHL ladies showing a fair amount of leg!
Goodie bags stuffed with Energades, Wine gums, All Sorts, Red Bulls and a Sports Illustrated magazine in hand, the bowling got going in earnest. Well as earnestly as barefoot bowling can get while balancing a beer and boerrie roll in the other hand … The tunes were being spun courtesy of a serious sound system from Bamboo Traders, and a complete jol was had by all …
Post bowling and it was time for the lively auction hosted by Tank Lanning … Given the silent bids for the truly extraordinary items up for grabs (thanks to the Players Fund, DHL, Bryan Habana, JJ Gagiano, Tsogo Sun, Jake White, Schalk Burger, Pat CIlliers and a few others) on the website prior to the day, the auction was kept short, feisty and fun …
Taken away on the day were the likes of signed Bryan Habana boots and Bok shorts, a signed 2012 WP Currie Cup jersey, signed Deon Fourie, Schalk Burger and Bob Skinstad boots, a signed 2010 New Zealand Tri-Nations Jersey, a Magnum of Middelvlei wine signed by Jake White, a signed 2012 Blitzbok Jersey, a signed 2012 Stormers Super Rugby Jersey, a signed 2011 Lions Currie Cup Jersey and 3 weekends away in various Tsogo Sun hotels.
The Fund’s Gail Ross and Nick Sheard then got the tears flowing with a few stories about the amazing work they do for players who suffer spinal injuries while playing rugby, and that prompted both Western Province sponsors DHL and business networking group, The Taverners, to donate a further R 20 000.00 each! Truly amazing scenes, and we cannot thank these guys enough …
The Players 4 Players team we would like to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of the players, sponsors, donators, bidders, organizers and helpers for making this a very special day indeed. This is a fantastic cause which sees rugby players coming to the aid of rugby players …
The people and companies who made it possible …
DHL, The Taverners , Claremont Rotary Club (for a one off R5 000.00 donation via Twitter), The Players Fund (for sourcing auction items) , Tiger Brands, Red Bull, Tsogo Sun, Mowbray Bowls Club, amboo Traders, Adidas, Gilbert, Sports Illustrated, Pick n Pay, Pinnacle Africa, Dozens Bakery, Windhoek, Johnnie Walker, Bells, Puma, SAB, Jordan Wine, Mike Kotze, Front Row Grunt, Attitude Plus, Gustav Schoombee, The League of Beer, Biltong Box, The Players4Players team
Agree with you regarding Stuart Barnes. I think he is an astute commentator that is generally very fair. He can also criticise when he thinks it is warranted, something our commentators need to do. (I actually had to fight my mates on Saturday to keep Barnes on)
Stuart Barnes & Justin Marshall are my favourite commentators at the moment.
What do you think?
Yep, Barnes and Marshall are top draw … Hoping to add a little to our SS stocks in 2013 🙂