Jacaranda 94.2's “Angels” made many listeners weep when - through the assistance of rugby legend, Naas Botha, and prosthetist, Johan Snyders, from Icexpress (a Tenant company of The Innovation Hub) - it was announced that a pensioner from Pretoria would receive a prosthetic limb.
Oom Ryno Eksteen recently lost his left leg when an amputation had to be performed due to the development of thrombosis occurring after a back operation. Taking matters in his stride, Eksteen was not phased until he was informed that his medical scheme would only contribute R10 000 towards the approximately R80 000 needed for a prosthesis. A request for assistance was sent to GMA and the rest, as they say, is history.
Naas Botha sponsored R76 000 on behalf of the Good Morning Angels Golf Day Fund and Icexpress Progressive Prosthetics committed to the manufacture and maintenance of the prosthesis, as well as the physiotherapy required to ensure optimum mobility. An emotional Eksteen was overwhelmed by the gesture when the Angels team contacted him with the news and the broadcast touched many listeners, especially since the recipient of this “gift” is 78 years of age.
“Oom Ryno still has a lot of life in him and those who love him greatly depend on him,” says Dr Marius Hannah, who made the request for assistance on behalf of Eksteen. Indeed, the senior citizen has led a full life; he had been active in all manner of sports and especially enjoyed playing rugby. He used to play as fly-half for Rhodesia Tech back in the day “when my family used to farm there”.
As Darren Scott pointed out, it is only fair that “one fly-half should help out another fly-half”. Good Morning Angels and Icexpress have collaborated to bring mobility to two other amputees in the past year, the only difference being that both recipients had been young men in their 20s - Berno Haarhoff and Roy Williams.
“We are honoured to contribute the funds required towards getting Oom Ryno the prosthetic limb he needs to live a full and active life,” commented the Good Morning Angels team. Icexpress CEO Johan Snyders says about his involvement: “I would never have dreamt that I would one day collaborate with Naas Botha in giving the gift of mobility to an amputee. It is very exciting and I am thrilled that we can help a respected senior citizen to live out his life without limitations.”
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