The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana Hwange Correspondent
STAKEHOLDERS and members of the community on Tuesday conducted a fund-raising march in Hwange town to raise $10 000 needed for 13-year-old Hillary Nyathi to undergo heart surgery in India.
Hillary, who is doing Grade 7 at Lwendulu Primary School, was diagnosed with a heart condition when he was only 18 months and ever since his life has been turned upside down.
According to one of the organisers of the event, Mr Never Nyaunzvi of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), the march, which was supported by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta), Hwange Colliery Company Schools Development Board and members of the community, was meant to raise awareness on Hillary’s plight.
“The march was meant to raise awareness on Hillary Nyathi’s condition which needs urgent attention. He requires a heart operation in India. We decided to embark on this exercise as a means of extending our begging bowl to the community and corporate world. We managed to get around $4 000 and pledges during the march and still need to do more to raise the funds as his situation is deteriorating by the day,” Mr Nyaunzvi said.
He said a trust fund had been set up as part of fund-raising efforts and education authorities had given the nod for schools in the district to hold a civvies day in order to raise the much-needed funds for Hillary’s surgery as his situation was deteriorating.
“We have managed to set up the Hillary Nyathi Medical Fund where well-wishers can assist by contributing cash or kind. We believe that a dollar can save a life and therefore we appeal to the nation to contribute towards this young boy who has so much to live for.
“Well wishers can deposit cash in the Hwange Children Medical Fund Standard Chartered Bank, account number 8750862730100 Hwange branch or call 0779 555 796,” he said.
The Grade 7 pupil’s mother, Ms Eusencia Inonge Wakumelo, said she was heartbroken by her son’s condition which has resulted in him spending most of his life in hospital and the pain he endures everyday because of his failing heart.
“Hillary has spent most of his life in hospital or in some condition. No other child his age would want to endure the pain that he goes through everyday as a result of the heart problem. He mostly suffers from intense fatigue, swelling of eyes, diarrhoea and dizziness that have affected his performance at school and home as he does not engage much in physical activities. I appeal to anyone who can assist us, please help us to raise the money required for him to undergo surgery so he can live normally like any other boy,” Ms Wakumelo said.
She said the effects of his heart condition had resulted in him failing to sit, stand or walk while he has difficulty eating due to loss of appetite.
The colourful march which ran under the theme: “a dollar can save a life”, started off at Hillary’s school Lwendulu before proceeding to Number 1 Bus Terminus and ending at TM Square.
