Despite the damaging effects that Motor Neuron Disease has inflicted on Joost van der Westhuizen, the former South African scrum-half continues to display an incredibly positive attitude and has vowed to fight the disease with the same strength and determination that he showed throughout his distinguished rugby career.
Once he discovered that he was suffering from MND, van der Westhuizen setup the J9 Foundation with the aim of providing support to others diagnosed with the same condition and to bring some comfort to their lives.
Among the characteristics of MND are slurred speech, creeping paralysis and difficulty in breathing, with life expectancy rarely more than five years from the onset of the disease.
On March 12th 2013, a fundraising dinner was held at a central London hotel at which many former and present day rugby stars were present to pay tribute to one of the greatest scrum-halves to have graced the game.
The dinner was organized by Gavin Varejes, a friend of van der Westhuizen and the founder of the South African Rugby Legends Association (SARLA). In his moving welcoming speech, Varejes read out texts from a number of rugby greats, including former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar and John Eales the one time captain of Australia.
Whilst most of the speakers were quick to highlight van der Westhuizen’s impressive rugby achievements, van der Westhuizen was keen for people to look at the more important things in life and to appreciate each and every day of their lives.
Because of his condition, Van der Westhuizen was unable to go on stage to deliver a speech; but in a pre-recorded video message he had the audience totally absorbed with his every word.
The evening ended with an auction of mostly rugby memorabilia, at which close to £100,000 was raised towards the J9 Foundation.
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