MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Former rugby player Ollie Terblanche is not giving up on life. The rugby injury in 2015 that left him paralysed, is not getting him down.
Rather, he is always mounting higher above his circumstances, and is now embarking on a whole new venture when he officially launches his own personalised coffee brand, Rise Coffee Co in Mossel Bay.
The launch is at Mossel Bay Superspar on Thursday, 24 October at 17:30 - 19:00 at the Rise Coffee Co premises. The name of the coffee is loaded with meaning. "It is a coffee with a purpose. The name signifies rising above your circumstances, but also simply being able to get up in the morning and have a cup of good, strong coffee," says an excited Ollie.
Well wishes from rugby players from all over have been streaming in on the eve of the launch. Ollie has inspired people everywhere over the past four years with his strong faith and miraculous recovery, and an unquenchable desire to "rise" and walk again - to be able one day to carry his children in his arms.
His dedicated wife, Chanel is alongside her husband in this new mission and is as supportive as she has been from the beginning of his journey to recovery.
Ollie hopes to do more than establish a business to support himself and his family.
"My purpose is bigger. I want to give back to the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players' Fund and in so doing, help other players too who are in the same boat as I. I would like to thank each and everyone from my heart who has been part of this new journey so far."
The fund is the official charity of the Springboks. It provides support to South African rugby players who have sustained serious, life-changing injuries.
For each retail packet of Rise Coffee sold, R2 will go towards the fund. There are three ways that the public can contribute: towards startup costs for Ollie's business, towards his stem cell transplants (one transplant costs R60 000), and towards the Players' Fund.
His most recent stem cell transplant was last week and he and Chanel are hoping for more improvement in his condition.
After his previous transplant he regained the use of two abdominal muscles, which meant that certain movements and sitting up became easier.
Contact Ollie on 081 391 9794 or send an email to ollie@risecoffeeco.co.za or visit www.risecoffeeco.co.za for more information.
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