Professional rugby players will tell you they are so focused on their games sometimes that they don’t even hear what’s going on in the stands around them. 

They’re sometimes not aware of the impact they are making off the field. But on Wednesday 12 June, the DHL Stormers saw exactly what difference they are making in the lives of the children who so desperately need their support.

As part of the #TacklingCancer campaign during this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby competition, Vodacom and the DHL Stormers players gave all their attention to a group of CHOC (Childhood Cancer Foundation) children during an exclusive movie day at the Ster Kinekor in Bayside Mall.

It was an opportunity for the players to pay tribute to the real superheroes of this Vodacom Super Rugby season as they gave these children a day away from hospital wards and chemotherapy, and spoiled them and their families with a special screening of Aladdin, as well as gifts for them and their devoted caregivers.

‘Because that’s what heroes do,’ as Thor himself would say.

This was a day when the players saw for themselves the effect of every tackle they make in this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby season, which results in Vodacom and SuperSport jointly donating R100 per tackle to CHOC in support of these children and their battles to overcome cancer, and with the further aim of raising R1 million by the end of the season.

As centre JJ Engelbrecht said of a similar experience he had when giving back to the fans in this way: ‘You know, it’s always great to see what goes on behind the scenes with the money we raise. We hear about it and play for it, but to meet the kids and see what it means to them is very special. I always try and focus on being grateful for what I have in life. Seeing what these children go through makes you even more grateful and inspires me to work even harder.’

When you’re #TacklingCancer, every single day counts. And Wednesday 12 June was no exception.