CAPE TOWN - The South African Rugby Legends Association(SARLA) in partnership with Cell C continue to raise funds for their #RugbyUnites campaign.
This past weekend, many South African franchises and big-named players got together at Checkers, Loftus Park in Pretoria for the biggest #RugbyUnites charity shop this far with the campaign seeing over 100,000 food parcels purchased, packed and delivered to vulnerable South Africans throughout the country since the beginning in May.
"What started quite humbly as a group of SA Rugby Legends getting together on a Sunday, to shop for groceries for those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, has grown into a wonderful four months of our Rugby Legends and current rugby players uniting every weekend”, says SARLA President Gavin Varejes.
Gavin continues, “We were very fortunate in that we have had incredible support from our headline sponsor Cell C, various NGO’s and a host of food suppliers across the country. The impact this initiative has had on the lives of South Africans in need is heart-warming. And this weekend’s big shop with all the SA Franchise teams united as one will be touching more people’s lives than ever”.
The #RugbyUnites big shopping event, that took place this past Sunday, was also made possible by the Vodacom SuperFan Saturday event which selected the #RugbyUnites campaign as a beneficiary. Vodacom SuperFan Saturday event took place on Saturday, 26 September, which not only marked the return of South Africa's competitive rugby but hosted rugby games showcasing the Vodacom Blue Bulls, the Cell C Sharks, the DHL Stormers and The Emirates Lions with Vodacom donating R2500 for every try score to the #RugbyUnites event the following day.
The food parcels from the Sunday event were donated to Lizo Gqoboka Foundation and the Ashfraful Aid Foundation with each charity distributing 500 food parcels to vulnerable families.
“Having been a part of #RugbyUnites from day one, it’s been remarkable to see how our rugby players, past and present, are so willing to give up their time to be a part of this initiative, truly embodying the spirit of #RugbyUnites,” says Cell C CEO, Douglas Craigie-Stevenson.
Emirates Lions captain and Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, said, before Sunday's big shopping event, “It has been a most rewarding couple of months spending time with Gavin, Cell C, the SA Rugby Legends and my fellow rugby players, helping to make a difference during these difficult times.
“Even more so, I’m looking forward to joining hands with our country’s other teams and doing the big shop for #RugbyUnites. I am sure we are all going to have tired, sore bodies after playing. But it will be worth it, knowing that we are helping to put food on someone’s table”.
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