This week Lottoland SA stepped in to extend a helping hand to one of South Africa’s top athletes, only hours before he was on his way to the Tokyo Olympics.
On the eve of his departure to Japan, Rocco van Rooyen, currently ranked number 8 in the world in javelin throw, appealed to Lottoland for financial assistance to help cover his fixed expenses at home. During the course of the year, Van Rooyen needed to take several weeks of unpaid leave from his work as a pastor, to be overseas to prepare for and compete in the Tokyo Olympics. He would not have been able to meet his financial commitments without a sponsorship like this.
Earlier this year Van Rooyen, who is ranked as one of the top 5 athletes in South Africa, financed his own trip to compete in Finland in preparation for the Olympics. There he notched up a second and third place in two international competitions respectively. Although his personal best is recorded as 87.62m, his dream for the 2021 Olympics is to throw at least his season’s best of 85.97m, which should bring an Olympic medal home to South Africa.
Van Rooyen, who has not signed up a professional sponsor yet, contacted Lottoland this week in the hope of securing some financial assistance. He says that it really was a shot in the dark, but on the back of the popular TV series Dankie, Lottoland on kykNet, he was hoping that Lottoland would consider his plight.
Dankie, Lottoland is currently in its second season, every week showcasing the support and assistance provided by Lottoland South Africa to various charity organisations and individuals in need. Lottoland will be making R16m available this year to help South Africans across the nation who are struggling during these difficult times. This current Tip Jar campaigns that are running across three regional radio stations, also set out to lend a helping hand to people working in the hospitality and entertainment industries who cannot earn an income during the lockdown restrictions.
In each of the 13 episodes of Dankie, Lottoland, local celebrities join the Lottoland team to visit a charity organisation or an individual, where they roll up their sleeves and help in various ways. Famous sports stars, popular musicians, and well-known actors, actresses and media personalities have already reached out to participate in the Dankie, Lottoland project.
Literally the night before Van Rooyen boarded a flight to Tokyo, the Lottoland team arrived at his house in Cape Town to personally present him with the green Lottoland envelope, containing a letter pledging its support. Van Rooyen says the generous financial assistance received from Lottoland will enable him to focus on bringing home an Olympic medal. “I am so grateful to Lottoland. Thanks to this sponsorship, I will not have the worry and financial strain of creating debt to keep up payments for fixed expenses back home during the weeks that I will not be earning a salary”.
Maryke Haywood, head of marketing at Lottoland says: “It’s a privilege for us to extend a helping hand to an athlete as talented as Rocco and we wish him everything of the best in the Olympics. He’s got the nation behind him and deserves the financial support that enables him to represent our country on this prestigious international platform. South Africa will be watching!”
