Joost's last, and greatest, battle

While memories of Joost van der Westhuizen’s exploits in the Springbok jersey will inevitably dim in years to come, his much publicised campaign to highlight motor neurone disease (MND) will ensure his legacy as a brave human being grows with future generations.

The J9 Foundation’s heartening work into encouraging research into the fatal disease could well be described as Joost’s last great battle, and one ultimately more significant than the countless skirmishes he had on the rugby field in the colours of South Africa, Northern Transvaal and the Bulls.

Joost sadly is gone, but his legacy regarding the horrific disease that he fought so bravely will grow because of the work he did in inspiring the medical profession to investigate further possible ways of halting the relentlessly debilitating disease that progressively cripples the nervous system.

The J9 Foundation was formed by Joost in aid of those suffering from the same illness that he was diagnosed with in 2011.

Joost created a platform through this foundation to allow people, companies and friends to support the quality of life programmes available within this organisation.

The foundation’s core objectives are to raise awareness, both locally and internationally, for MND with the intent of teaching people about the disease so that they, in turn, support efforts across the globe to find a cure or cause.

The foundation seeks to raise awareness among medical practitioners and nursing staff to enable them to make earlier and correct diagnoses and provide better emotional and physical care on initial diagnoses of a patient.

There had been no research in South Africa into MND before Joost initiated J9 in 2015, with the core aim of finding a cure or cause for MND.

Essential, also, to the work of J9, is contributing to a better quality of life for those living with the disease as well as the family members who are forced into life-changing circumstances as they assist their loved ones.

In launching the J9 logo, Joost said: “It is a symbol of the willingness to strive forward and never give in, no matter how tough life's challenges are. It is about fighting to the end, to show true courage and valour.”

This should be Joost’s most telling legacy to South Africa and the world, to everyone who watched him carry that number and those words on his back and in his heart.

Directly because of Joost’s courage in fighting MND and the establishment of his foundation, more than 50 MND sufferers and their families in South Africa are currently receiving support from J9. To date, J9 has supported more than 100 MND patients through their journey.

J9 does this in the following ways:

– Financial support: The supplying of anything from grocery vouchers to mobility and communication aids (including bipap ventilators, pec tubes, feeds, wheelchairs, hospital beds and nursing staff).

– Emotional support: The foundation strives to support MND sufferers and their families emotionally and spiritually. One of the main focus areas is to keep beneficiaries positive and stress free, as these are two key areas that have a direct influence on the pace of deterioration associated with this disease.

– The J9 Moments of Magic: The foundation endeavours to create opportunities for beneficiaries and their families to realise their last wishes, whether it is to visit a specific destination, the realisation of unfulfilled dreams, or just meeting a hero.