Sports Staff
Naaziyah Manuel, 11, from Colorado Park, died last week after a battle with cancer.
Earlier this year, after being diagnosed with cancer in February, young Naaziyah was first to congratulate her grandfather, Jamiel Amien, after he finished the 50km Tour d’ Plain cycle tour, at Strandfontein pavilion.
Amien, his brother, Naziem and Naaziyah’s uncle Buddy Manuel, completed the 50km route to raise awareness about young children living with cancer.
The event, of which the Plainsman was the media partner, aimed to raise awareness around the illness with the Sunflower Fund being its main beneficiary. Naaziyah braved the early morning chill to help serve coffee and snacks to the cyclists at the start of the race.
At the time the Grade 6 pupil at Kenwyn Primary School pupil said: “It’s difficult to remain positive because I can’t do the one thing that I love best which is school but my parents helped me to get my confidence back.”