Amanzimtoti scholars show solidarity for classmate’s cancer diagnosis

Kuswag Skool pupils are sporting new hairstyles after they shaved their heads to boost the morale of a fellow school mate who is undergoing chemotherapy.

Alma van Heerden (16) was diagnosed with lymphoma leukaemia in October and started chemotherapy last November. She received the best Christmas present when her doctor informed her she was in remission two days before Christmas. Unfortunately she is still undergoing chemotherapy until November.

She had sufficient marks for the school to allow her to pass grade 10 with an average. She, however is not allowed to return to school this year.

When the school year started, her boyfriend Ruan Swart, who is the first team rugby vice-captain, asked his coach Zander Erasmus if he could shave his hair in solidarity. Zander agreed and offered to join him. “Alma is such a well-loved member of our school that I asked the rest of the first team if they wanted to and the whole team joined in,” said Zander.

Fellow teacher Lourine Wijnmaalen had wanted to shave her hair for Cansa during the school holidays but refrained from doing it as she wanted to do it for a cause. Armed with a worthy cause, she joined in, which prompted another teacher and some girls to also come on board.

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“Other rugby players also wanted in, so we decided that whomever wanted to shave their hair should stay behind after assembly on Tuesday, 29 January and do it in front of the school.”

Ruan and Zander were overwhelmed when half the school shaved their heads. “We were shaving hair until the end of the day. It evolved into one big, happy event. It was the community and the school showing Alma a sign of support.”

Ruan said when Alma heard about what her schoolmates had done, she was overwhelmed. “She has been down in the dumps for the last two weeks after a chemo session and this news boosted her morale. Plus she will be discharged from hospital today (Wednesday, 6 February),” he said.

All the long hair of more than 20cm in length was donated to an organisation in Amanzimtoti that makes wigs for cancer patient.