COVID-19 Diaries Part 30: Ruhan Nel and the act of giving

While the rugby fraternity are craving some action on the field of play and to get back to enjoying one of South Africa’s favourite sports, Blitzboks and DHL Stormers centre, Ruhan Nel, has decided to do something extra in order to help those who can’t help themselves.

Nel, a veteran of 30 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series for the Blitzboks and a Springbok tourist in 2018, is raffling out some of his favourite rugby jerseys in order to help a missionary and feeding scheme in Cape Town.

“We all are facing uncertain and challenging times,” Nel told www.springboks.rugby.

“Yet, most of us are still fortunate enough to be safely at home, with enough food to eat and a warm place to rest our heads in the evening. We are also fortunate to have family and friends to stay in contact with and that makes the lockdown a little bit easier to cope with.”

The reality is that all of us have been affected in one way or another by the COVID-19 pandemic, some sadly more than others, and that is what urged Nel to do something about it.

“Hunger and starvation are rife in South Africa and are starkly amplified by the COVID-19 lockdown,” he said.

“Mercifully, there are numerous organizations providing food for those in need and I decided to assist one of them, Vrygrond Outreach Ministry, in this regard.”

Nel decided to raffle three of his most valuable rugby jerseys, with all the funds raised to go towards Vrygrond Outreach Ministry.

“The reason I chose Vrygrond is because their pastor’s son is the DHL Stormers’ head physiotherapist, Wayne Hector,” said Nel.

“Wayne raffled up a DHL Stormers jersey on his social media platform and I decided to put a bit of weight behind his good gesture and also raffle three of my jerseys towards the cause.

“Millions of South Africans are left without basic necessities during these times and if I can play a part in making a positive impact in a negative situation, I want to do that. I’m sure there are plenty others out there using their platforms for the same objective in this time, the more the better.

“It wasn’t easy to part of these jerseys, to be honest, as all of them hold a special place in my rugby career and memories,” Nel added.

“But the cause is greater than my needs, so in the end it was an easy decision to part with the jerseys, some things are bigger than rugby.”

Raffle tickets cost R100 per jersey and supporters can win a DHL Western Province Currie Cup jersey, a Springbok Sevens Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 jersey (the Blitzboks won bronze) or the alternate strip of the 2016/17 Blitzboks jersey (in which they won the 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series), all match-worn by Nel.

The draw is on Saturday, 1 May and if you want to enter, you can contact Nel on his Instagram profile @ruhannel, Facebook profile (ruhan.nel) or send him an email at [email protected] to find out the details.