Cancer claims plucky Teen
Posted by planetultramarathon on February 9, 2007
http://www.theherald.co.za/herald/news/n19_09022007.htm
Cancer claims plucky teen
By Mike Loewe
LIZZIE White, the effervescent teenager who touched the hearts of many in Grahamstown, has died from cancer.
The ever-positive 17-year-old, who went to the Diocesan School for Girls until last year, was diagnosed with a large brain tumour almost a decade ago and underwent numerous operations and chemo sessions in Port Elizabeth.
A short service was held in the DSG chapel yesterday.
Pupils and teachers were subdued and many wept. Friends of Lizzie at St Andrew‘s College were also very upset, a source at DSG said.
Afternoon school sport and cultural activities were cancelled.
A teacher who was close to her was sent home. A Grade 8 pupil said: “At break we just sat. Nobody said anything.”
Lizzie‘s parents, St Andrew‘s Prep teacher and former Natal prop forward, Bruce, her librarian mom Gracey, and brother Robbie, were too distraught to speak to the press.
Lizzie died at about 9.30am at home – a flat at St Andrew‘s Prep.
She became a household name in Grahamstown in 2005 when teachers at St Andrew’s College and DSG ran the Comrades Marathon to raise money for her treatment, after coining the campaign name “legs4lizzie”. Scores of businesses and individuals donated to the campaign, which aimed to ease the financial burden of her medical costs.
Businesses adapted the “legs4lizzie” expression, resulting in a plethora of alternatives such as “repairs4lizzie” from a tyre firm, “coffee4lizzie” from the local Wimpy, “IDs4lizzie” from the local Kodak outlet, and “loud4lizzie” from a country and western band.
Lizzie was sporting, a devout Baptist, sang in the choir and auditioned for Idols when she was 16.
She kept a thick journal of her life in and out of hospital in Port Elizabeth and in Grahamstown, including bits of letters, images of cherubs, pizza receipts and even scraps of her reviled test results. She wrote poetry and a book which started with the words: “Treasure your life, for you never know when it will end.”
Her biggest worry was for her parents and she would tell visitors: “Don‘t worry about me, worry about my mom!” but she also urged those around her to “make every day special”.
The Rev Linda Schwartz of DSG said the school was “just devastated. She was the most sparkling, wonderful character.”
Makana Business Forum chairman Rob Beer said: “Many tears have flowed in this town today. She was a brave little girl.”
