Butterflies flutter in Lonehill

Ependymoma Awareness Day is observed on 18 April and was started in 2013 by the Collaborative Ependymoma Research Network Foundation (Cern) in America.

Ependymoma is a rare cancer of the brain or spinal cord that strikes children and adults. According to Cern, ependymomas account for 3 to 6 percent of all tumors of the central nervous system.

O’Neill decided to observe the awareness day because her daughter, Layla was diagnosed with ependymoma last year and is now struggling with the condition.

Butterflies were flown in from a butterfly breeding centre in KwaZulu-Natal and O’Neill added to the festivity of the day by wrapping the trees in and around the park with yellow cloth.

O’Neill explained that recently Layla has been suffering with tremors, and due to the pressure of the tumours on her brain she often gets moody.

However Layla seemed to thoroughly enjoy the awareness day. She judged the colouring-in competition and although she had to be pushed around in her pram, she still hid Easter eggs for guests to find.

According to the Cern foundation, the butterfly release symbolises the buoyed hope of improved treatments for ependymoma through collaboration.