Joost Van Der Westhuizen - a champion on the field & now a champion off it

[emuarse]

Possibly one of the greatest Springbok of them all, has been struck down with MND, motor neurone disease, and is now in the battle of his life.http://static.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif
http://static.AK (Andrew Kellaway).fbcdn.net/rsrc.php/v2/y4/r/-PAXP-deijE.gif
Joost Van Der Westhuizen's response on realizing what the disease meant, a slow melt down of his muscular co-ordination whereby commands from the brain slowly but inevitably become disabled, is to crusade the fight to help solve MND.
My sister-in-law came down with a form of MND five years ago. At the time the doctors admitted it was difficult to diagnose and that there was no cure, and gave her 6 months to live. She is still alive but faiding slowly in a nursing home. The end will come from choking, by her own muscular system.
Van Der Westhuizen has established the J9 Foundation in South Africa to help find a cure, and is travelling the world to raise funds for his crusade.
The game he is participating in now is much closer to the gates of heaven than the previous form.
The following is an extract from The Australian.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...-neurone-disease/story-fnb64oi6-1226759749373

 

[Baldric]

Another ex-bok also suffering from MND.

http://www.iol.co.za/news/south-afr...joost-s-disease-report-1.1508291#.UoVcVyfpxRk

 

[Blue]

One wonders about the head knocks these guys took over their careers.

 

[young gun]

I've got to say I find the whole Joost thing very upsetting. I remember the first time I saw him play, as a 19 year old (I think). Wallabies v Northern Transvaal at Loftus in 1992(?).

It was the Wallabies first tour to SA after the Springbok exile period, and I, and all rugby supporters were keen to see what Springbok and South African rugby were all about. Wallabies were World Cup holders at the time. This 19 year old "kid" was just outstanding - his speed was incredible, and he liked to use it. Had a huge game and it was clear this was the start of something special. His performance in the 1995 RWC final spoke for itself. The All Blacks biggest mistake wasn't "chowing down" at Suzies buffet, it was constantly turning the ball inside to Lomu down the 1/2 5/8 centre channels - Stransky didn't have to tackle because Joost handled it for him - and this was at a time that no one could tackle Lomu.

One of the greats - hope it goes well for him, absolutely one of my favourite players, even if he was a Bokkie