Community rallies for brave young patient

RICHARDS Bay Primary School learner Luanru Smit (10) is bravely battling the leukaemia that has invaded his young body – but he has a horde of helpers who will fight by his side.

Once a happy, ultra-active boy with above average sporting talent, the child received the diagnosis shortly after touring in March with the U11A rugby team.

“We were caught completely unawares,” said his mother Natalia.

“We had only noticed our young sports fanatic showing slight signs of tiredness and lack of appetite, and did not worry too much about it; however, when we travelled to a wedding just a week after he played in the rugby tour, things deteriorated quickly and he showed extreme tiredness.

“He started swelling and was in pain so we took him to a hospital in Brits where they did an X-ray and scans and took bloods. On 30 March, we were told his lymph nodes were swollen and he had leukaemia.”

After the initial shock and disbelief as reality set in, Natalia’s deep-rooted faith prevailed and while Luanru is being treated in Durban, she and older child Sonica (11) miss him, but know he is in good hands.

“A number of things made me realise God always has His plan. His will be done.

“Already the situation has brought a whole community together and I am overwhelmed by the amount of love, prayers and support we have been shown.”

The sympathy and support have flooded in, with school teachers and pupils shaving their hair in a show of empathy as they identify with the consequences of Luanru’s intense treatment and severe physical condition, while prayer groups seek divine intervention.

There is also an air of optimism as the community rallies to provide more than mere sympathy, with a number of fundraising initiatives already launched.

Golf day

Treatment is costly and lengthy, and travel expenses are steep, and among others, Round Table uMhlathuze 261 is hosting a golf day on 18 May at Richards Bay Country Club.

They are calling for generous player support as well as public donations.

For more information, call C Klopper on 073 9176623 or D Sedice on 084 4447784. Banking details:

Round Table uMhlathuze261 Account number 52160083111

FNB branch: 250655

Trust launched

The Luanru Trust has also been established to help with fundraising for treatment.

“People are welcome to monitor what comes in and goes out of the account, and whatever might be left over will go to the next needy cause,” said Natalia.

Trust details:

Serfontein & Richards Inc. ABSA Bank Trust Account

Acc no: 4056567993

Branch code: 632005 Reference: LUANRU International Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ

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