The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “fighter” as a person who does not easily admit defeat in spite of difficulties or opposition.
- Cancer Fighter: Jaiden le Roux (4)
The support of friends and family!
This definition certainly applies to young Jaiden le Roux and his friends and family who rallied around him this weekend at a spinathon held in his honour. The spinathon was held at Virgin Active Montana on Saturday, 24 August 2013. Just short of 40 spinners took part in this 2 hour event.
If love and support could be measured in terms of the buckets of sweat then this 4 year old cancer fighter is one blessed little boy.
A true fighter
Jaiden was diagnosed with leukemia early in 2013 and while he is currently in remission, he still has about three years of maintenance chemo left. A recent encounter with swine flu has left Jaiden with a brain injury that seems to be affecting portions of his long term and short term memory. After leaving the hospital in may, Jaiden had to learn to walk and talk again. He has had to work hard to reach many of his mile stones again.
The unfailing love and support of his patience and the mountains of love and patience with which they are teaching his so many of the things he has forgotten, is truly heart warming.
In need of financial contributions
This encounter with the swine flu, and the resulting medical bills that were not covered by the medical aid, has left the family in need of a means to pay the excess costs. The spinathon, which was also the first official fundraising event for SOFFT, a registered non-profit, was a huge success. The event raised a total of just over R6 000 for Jaiden.
SOFFT’s Role
SOFFT’s Mission
SOFFT is an organisation that support families of children who have long term health conditions. These conditions include any condition that affect a child for longer than one year, that influences their quality of life, and that requires them to receive integrated medical care for longer than one year.
SOFFT aims to assist families to become independent and to assist them with finding solutions to the obstacles brought about by their child’s condition, without making them dependent on SOFFT’s assistance. This spinathon for cancer fighter Jaiden is one example of the way in which SOFFT empoweres families. While the families handle the bulk of the arrangements, SOFFT plays an advisory role, and assists with ensuring that the proper systems are in place in terms of accountability towards the donours.
SOFFT also provides emotional support as well as practical advice to the families who contact them. SOFFT also provides families with resources to create awareness about the various conditions that the children may have. SOFFT is currently actively involved in efforts to lobby for improved paediatric cardiac services in South Africa.
SOFFT and the Le Roux family would like to thank the gym, all the sponsors and all the participants for supporting this awesome event.
For more information visit www.sofftsa.org
Find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sofft.npo
Find us on Twitter: @SOFFT_SA
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- Spinathon for young leukemia fighter (roaringstrawberry.wordpress.com)
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