R22 000 raised to fight against cancer
JUKSKSEI - The Sledgehammer CrossFit Gym raises funds for Ependy Angels.
When Layla O’Neill (7) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as ependymoma, it was devastating news for her family but her mother, Sharyn O’Neill, is keeping her daughter alive by all means.
It was for cancer patients that the Sledgehammer CrossFit Gym in Jukskei held a fundraiser. Dominique Da Silva from the CrossFit Gym said they had managed to raise over R22 000 for Ependy Angels a non- profit organisation that Sharyn set up shortly after her daughter was diagnosed with ependymoma.
Speaking with tears in her eyes, Sharyn described her daughter’s diagnosis as heartbreaking. “We took Layla to the doctor after she complained of pains in her right leg. She also suffered with headaches, hearing loss and vision problems,” she said.
After several tests she was diagnosed with the disease. Sharyn pointed out that doctors had not given Layla long to live but three years later and she has not yet given up on living. Layla is paralysed from her lumber region and is in a wheelchair.
“What inspires me is that my daughter is a fighter who does not give up. She encourages me to do so much more as every day we have with her is a gift because we don’t know when her last day will be,” Sharyn explained.
She further explained Layla’s medical costs run up to R42 000 a month and that the efforts of the [Sledgehammer CrossFit Gym https://www.sledgehammercrossfit.co.za/] went a long way to help her organisation. “What breaks my heart is knowing I won’t see her grow up or see her get married, one day. I have this constant fear that every day is my last day with her but she keeps fighting to stay,” said Sharyn.
Details: Ependy Angels, info@ependyangels.co.za
Related Article: How much sugar is in your diet?
