Rugby teams do their bit

A simulated rugby field at Loftus Versfeld was filled to capacity with bags of clothing and bedding collected by Clothing4Children from Pretoria Schools.

Vodacom Blue Bulls, DHL Western Province and Sharks players in the under-19, under-21 and senior teams, fans, sponsors and suite owners in the Pretoria region also collected for the Clothing4Children Campaign.

Prior to Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup clash between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and DHL Western Province, all the players walked on to the field with their bags to show their support for the inspiring campaign, started by Burger brothers Schalk and Wim.

In the week building up to the final day for donations, The Blue Bulls Company and Clothing4Children had received more than 53 000 bags of clothing and bedding from schools, while fans and players brought their bags to Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, taking the total tally to almost 55 000 bags which are estimated to be worth more than R200 million.

Turn The Tide 4 Children, distribution partner of Clothing4Children, mobilized the Churches and Charities in Pretoria to distribute the bags to the 1.2 million poverty-stricken people in the Pretoria/Tshwane metropole.

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain Gary Botha said the sights at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon left him speechless. “It was so overwhelming to witness first-hand the generous and charitable spirits of all those associated with the Blue Bulls family. To have been a part of this wonderful initiative is very gratifying and I know that everyone involved will be delighted to know that we have made a difference in our community and will continue to do so in the future.”