MissFit Boxing in Fourways’s fundraiser for young resident with leukaemia

A young resident in need of funds for treatment to aid recovery from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia received overwhelming support from her community.

April 17, 2023

Khomotso Makgabutlane 1 minute read

Michela Perdichizzi from MissFit Boxing leads the crowd in a warm-up session. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Residents, community members and friends of the family of a young resident, diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who recently relapsed, hosted a fundraiser at Bryandale Primary School for her medical care.

Talia Rosengarten ready to join in the fitness action at Bryandale Primary School. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Fourways-based gym MissFit Boxing held a fitness fundraising session for nine-year-old Zoey Da Silva. Zoey was first diagnosed with the cancer in 2020. The funds that need to be raised are for treatment that she can only receive in Israel at a cost of R1.8 million.
The day saw attendees partake in different fitness activities. These included yoga, rugby, boxing, and many others.

Community member Charlene Hughes in action for the Get Fit for Zoey event. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

MissFit Boxing Fourways branch owner, Shanna Pawson said Zoey’s mother, Melissa, is a part of the gym. Pawson wanted to reach out to assist Zoey’s family.
“We are a family at our gym, and we are a community of women who stick together. So we had to jump in when this happened. We came together with Zoey’s school, who let us use the field. A teacher at the school is also a member at the gym and chairman of the school’s PTA (Parent Teacher Association),” she said.
“We have been so pleased with the turnout today. We’ve got lots of members and many supporters from the school.

Patrick Meyer gets low to flip a tyre. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

“We posted the event online and so a lot of community members also came through. An event like this has brought us all closer, so you never know about hosting another event like this.”

Anneli Meyer on the gym ropes. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Melissa – alongside other family members, including dad Paulo, stepmother Sarah and stepdad Ricky Viera – expressed gratitude to the community for their support of the Zoey Grace Fund.

Boxing is one of the fitness activities available at the Get Fit for Zoey event. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

Farrah Proome gets in the boxing zone to raise funds at the Get Fit for Zoey fundraiser. Photo: Khomotso Makgabutlane

“We never imagined this kind of response from the community. There are simply just no words, just pure and utter gratitude. It’s been a daunting task to raise this kind of money. People have kind of made their own initiatives and just going with it has made our lives so much easier,” said Sarah.