Meet the Cover Stars

OUR COVER STARS ARE SHARLEIGH AND RIEKERT WILKEN WITH THEIR SONS, REECE (18) AND KYLE (16). THEY ARE ALL DONNING COLOURFUL

SUNFLOWER FUND TOPES IN HONOUR OF SUNFLOWER DAY ON 13 NOVEMBER.

Reece is currently writing receiving my new chemo- Although she didn’t make his matric final exams therapy port and I slipped use of the Sunflower fund, and according to his mom into a coma for almost Sharleigh is a supporter of he is a calm, mature and a month. With very little the organisation, which is level headed young man hope, yet overwhelming a donor recruitment centre who loves playing rugby faith, I lay in hospital while and stem cell registry and golf. He has been a my family, friends and the for Africa and is part of a leader in both junior school community prayed for a global network, dedicated to and high school and is a miracle and I miraculously creating awareness about chef in life’s kitchen. awoke but was paralysed blood diseases and stem

Kyle is currently in grade from the neck down and cell donation, recruiting 10 and is a whizz with tech- had to learn to talk, walk, blood stem cell donors and nology and design, adven- eat and move again.” maintaining a registry of turous and also plays rugby. Sharleigh was told that committed donors. He has an engineering brain she would need a bone “By registering to be a doand has incredible patience marrow transplant and her nor, you are offering a patient with solving problems relat- amazing doctor, Dr JP Singh, and their family an indeing to mechanics. began looking for a match scribable amount of HOPE. It

“They are both blood but they were unsuccess- allows them to enjoy another donors and my journey ful. “In September 2014, and Christmas together, a graduwith leukaemia has en- only by the grace of God, my ation, a chance to make new abled them to show com- own stem cells were retested memories and a second passion to those strug- and I was given the chance chance at living. gling with health issues,” to harvest my own cells in “I give all Glory to God says their proud mom. order to go ahead with the for my current healing and

Sharleigh was diagnosed transplant. I spent a total of remission status. I will be forwith leukaemia in 2011 at 194 days in isolation during ever grateful to my wonderful the age of 33 and started my fight with Leukaemia and husband, children, family, treatment immediately. on 1 October 2014 I had my doctor, nurses and beauti“After two years of ongoing stem cell transplant and was ful friends for their support,” treatment, the cancer had given another chance at life!” concludes Sharleigh. sadly spread to my spinal fluid and was putting pressure on my brain, which caused complications and two strokes,” explains Sharleigh. “When returning to hospital for an amended treatment plan after the third year, I experienced a serious complication when