Funds needed for MND centre
MONTECASINO - Joost van der Westhuizen and his team are raising funds to build a centre that will help individuals who are diagnosed with neurodegenerative diseases.
They held an event at Montecasino’s Prive on 23 September to launch the scheme in Gauteng. Van der Westhuizen said the public had not supported causes for motor neuron diseases (MND) and he wanted to promote awareness of the issue.
MND is a group of progressive neurological disorders that destroy motor neurons, the cells that control essential voluntary muscle activity such as speaking, walking, breathing and swallowing.
Media and local celebrities came out to support Van der Westhuizen’s plans for the new centre, which he announced in August, just hours before the premier of his biographical documentary, Joost: Spel van Glorie at the Silwerskerm Film Festival in Cape Town.
The centre is important to Van der Westhuizen as he was diagnosed with MND in 2011. He then embarked on a global tour to build relationships with leading experts at some of the world’s top facilities in his quest to help fight a disease which has stricken scores of high-level athletes around the world.
Colin Bone, the official partner in the multi-award-winning Kettle Collective architectural practice, had volunteered to draw up the plans for Van der Westhuizen’s centre.
“The design looks to offer hope by presenting the spirit of the athlete in motion, a dynamic form which encourages both physical and mental well-being,” said Bone of the design.
The South African Rugby Legends donated R20 000 towards the centre which was handed over by Stefan Terblanche; and KykNet’s Karen Maiden confirmed the TV station also donated a whopping R50 000.
Despite being told he had only two years to live, Van der Westhuizen has proven through courage and hope that anything is possible.
