Van Rooyen in need of assistance

Limba Mupetami WINDHOEKFormer rugby player for the Namibian national team Mathys van Rooyen is a shadow of the strong, capable man he once was.Unable to walk or speak, he spends most of his time at home after he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) in 2019.His journey so far has been difficult as well as heartbreaking, prompting family and friends to join hands and minds to make his life as comfortable as possible.One such friend and former teammate is Jacques Burger, the former captain of the Namibian senior rugby side.Burger took to Twitter to call on Doddie Gump – a mass participation event which raises awareness and funds for MND – to help Van Rooyen.“He has lost his ability to walk [and] speak, and [his] medical costs are high. What can I, we do to help him?” Burger tweeted.When contacted yesterday, Burger said he is talking to people in the United Kingdom, and that locally any help would be appreciated to aid his friend.Son of the soilVan Rooyen represented the national team during the 1999 Rugby World Cup which was hosted by Wales, and has over the years committed himself to domestic and national rugby as he has unselfishly contributed at various coaching levels throughout Namibia, especially at school level where he made a significant impact.MND is an uncommon condition that affects the brain and nerves. It causes weakness that gets worse over time.There's no cure for MND, but there are treatments to help reduce the impact it has on a person's daily life. Some people live with the condition for many years.MND can significantly shorten life expectancy and, unfortunately, eventually leads to death.Rugby players like former Springboks Joost van der Westhuizen and Tinus Linee also suffered and succumbed to MND. The two were diagnosed in 2011 and 2013 respectively. Linee died in 2014, while Van der Westhuizen lost his battle against the disease in 2017.Former Scotland and British and Irish Lions forward Doddie Weir and former Leeds Rhinos Rugby League player Rob Burrow are also fighting the crippling disease. Those interested in assisting can contact the M7 Trust at m7.trust@gmail.com.

Van Rooyen in need of assistance

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-04

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Van Rooyen in need of assistance

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Namibian Sun 2026-02-04

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