�A very strong girl�
Staff Writer | Friday January 16, 2015 14:14
“When you meet Abbie you are instantly inspired by her,” says United Kingdom-based singer songwriter, Lorraine Lionheart. “She is an incredibly brave girl. She does not mourn or feel sorry for herself. She keeps on smiling even though I am sure she has fears.”
Lionheart is leading a fundraising effort to save Abbie through a P500,000 operation required to remove a cancerous tumour.
The campaign, ‘Help Save Abbie’, has stretched from the United Kingdom, where Abbie and her mother currently are, to Botswana and cyberspace. Lionheart believes Abbie’s infectious positive energy is what is keeping her going as she awaits the critical funds and operation. “I have become more confident than ever that we can raise P500,000 after seeing her. She is a polite child and quite mature for her age.
“In fact, I have a better conversation with Abbie than I have with a lot of adults. “She loves creative play, and when I first met her I brought a face painting kit, which was a hit,” she explains. Abbie aspires to be a doctor although she also possesses talent in sports, and athletics in particular.
“She has a number of awards from school to show for it,” Lionheart says. “Thus far, she has lost a year of school and all efforts to get her back to great health and to school are really appreciated.
Meanwhile, Abbie’s mother, Tiny, is also fighting to stave off depression around the issue. Tiny has had to be strong in the midst of the situation and maintain a brave face for her daughter.
“I feel Abbie’s campaign has brought to light the fact that it is in us as Batswana to love and care for one another,” says Lionheart. “It is a culture that is engrained in our DNA, but it is unfortunate that it takes an extreme case like this for that culture to be revived.
“I have always wanted to start a movement that is dedicated to encouraging Batswana to embrace those very positive elements of who we are, and I shall continue pursuing that dream and doing my best to practice what I preach.”
The Facts
Abien 'Abbie' Ntshabele needs your donation. She was diagnosed with rare cancer called Ovarian Immature Teratoma.
Funds Needed P 500, 000
Funds Raised Thus Far P 209, 000
(As at January 8)
Well wishers interested in helping can use the following details:
Account Name: Abian Ntshabele
Bank: First National Bank
Account Number: 62263884291
Branch: Main Branch
United Kingdom Banking Details
Account Name: Tiny Lerato Ntshabele
Bank: HSBC
Account: 42013940
Sort Code: 400917