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Joost posts #RAKnomination

Cape Town - Former Bok scrumhalf Joost van der Westhuizen and his J9 foundation for fellow sufferers of the rare Motor Neuron Disease (MND) have taken up the challenge of supporting a charitable cause in the viral phenomenon known as #RAKnomination.

VIDEO: Joost's #RAKnomination

It began in Australia, and quickly went viral: #Neknomination. The extreme social media drinking game involves challengers downing alcohol in bizarre and potentially dangerous ways, posting videos of their exploits online and then nominating others to outdo them.

People have since turned the game on its head by using their nomination to 'pay it forward' by doing a good or charitable deed in what has become known as #RAKnomination (Random Acts of Kindness).

Other notable sports organisations who have become part of the global viral trend of #RAKnomination, were the Sharks rugby team who recently donated R12 000 worth of food to needy children and have challenged the Stormers and the Bulls to join them in an act of charity.

Van der Westhuizen was recently #RAKnominated and he and his J9 foundation have responded by posting a video on YouTube, which the former Bulls and Springboks stalwart posted with the following message from his Twitter account on Tuesday:

"The #J9Foundation #RAKnomination VIDEO!! what an amazing feeling to do something good for this family."

For his #RAKnomination, Van der Westhuizen has launched the #J9MomentsOfMagic initiative which will give people suffering from Motor Neuron Disease and their families 'once in a lifetime' experiences through the help of corporate sponsorship.

Van der Westhuizen pledged to begin the initiative by helping fellow MND sufferer Stuart Macfarlane fulfil his dream of taking his family to see the Victoria Falls.

"I have been a sufferer of MND for 41 months and I have first-hand experience of how this disease changes the way you think and what you regard as important in life. Family is important; the love of life is in valuable, and the gift is truly in the giving. At the end, memories are all we have," said Van der Westhuizen.

In the video's conclusion, Van der Westhuizen nominated Barend van Graan, CEO of the Blue Bulls, Gavin Varejes, CEO of Richmark Holdings and J9 Director, along with fellow trustee and Blink Pictures Director, Odette Schwegler, to 'pay it forward'.
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