Neville now wants to help others to deal with cancer

At just nine years old, Neville Philemon Mufhadi from Ha-Musekwa Ngundu in Nzhelele was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumour. Now 20, Neville has turned his battle with cancer into a mission to raise awareness and support others facing similar struggles.

His journey began in 2013, when, as a Grade 4 student, he was admitted to Polokwane Hospital during his final exams. “I was very depressed because I was in the hospital and couldn’t write my exams, which led to me failing Grade 4,” he recalls.

In 2014, Neville underwent two life-changing surgeries: the first to drain excess fluid from his brain and the second to remove the tumour. Following the operations, he endured chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which left lasting effects on his body, including changes to his hair growth.

The physical and emotional toll was immense. “After all that, I started hating myself because it was hard to accept my condition,” said Neville. Returning to school was also difficult, as he faced stigmatisation from his peers. “I wore a cap to cover my head, but some kids still called me names and didn’t want to play with me, thinking they could catch the disease.”

Despite the challenges, Neville found strength in his faith, family, friends, and community. “I thank God for giving me strength and for protecting me. I realised that this is part of God’s plan, and I embraced myself and my journey,” he said.

Neville’s perseverance paid off, and he successfully passed matric. He is now studying nursing at the Royal Mpilo College. “After surviving cancer, I told myself that I want to help other people who are struggling with what I went through,” he said.

On 16 May 2024, Neville officially founded The Giving of Hope, an organisation aimed at raising cancer awareness and supporting cancer patients, especially in underserved communities. “I formed this organisation because of what I experienced during my diagnosis—the pain, the stigma, and the discrimination. I realised that many people in our country, especially in rural areas, lack education about diseases like cancer,” Neville explained.

Alongside Neville, the organisation’s leadership includes his aunt, Ndivhuwo Bridget Mofati, and his mother, Portia Tshimangadzo Mufhadi, who supported him throughout his cancer journey. Currently, The Giving of Hope has a team of 10 volunteers, but they are seeking more help to expand their awareness campaigns. “We want to educate people and show them that cancer is not something to fear or stigmatise. Together, we can give hope to those in need,” Neville said.

Date:06 October 2024

By: Maanda Bele

Maanda  Bele, born and raised in Nzhelele Siloam, studied journalism at the Tshwane University of Technology.

He is passionate about current news and international affairs.

He worked as part of the Zoutnet team as an intern in 2017.

He is currently a freelance journalist specialising in news from the Vhembe district.

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