Help Leonie Fight Cancer - A Beloved Colleague Needs Our Support

Many of you will fondly remember Leonie (Wilhelmia) Ocariza, who was such a valued part of our Latifa School community for many years. Whether you needed your morning coffee or just a friendly chat, Leonie was always there with her warm smile, caring nature and an ever-full coffee pot.

Leonie is now facing a serious health challenge.

Now back home in the Philippines, Leonie has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. She's already undergone a mastectomy and is partway through chemotherapy, with radiotherapy still to come. Unfortunately, the medical expenses have exhausted her family's savings, and they're struggling to cover the cost of her remaining treatment.

Leonie's daughter Pauline contacted me asking if former colleagues might be able to help support them during this difficult time.

We have a chance to support someone who always supported us.

Many of us are fortunate to have jobs with medical cover, or live where medical care is free. Leonie isn't in that position, and she could really use our help to complete her treatment.

I've worked to verify this request - speaking personally with both Leonie and Pauline and reviewing Leonie's medical documentation to ensure this is a genuine situation.

Any contribution, large or small, would mean the world to Leonie and her family.

I hope the Latifa family can come together to help the woman who always took such good care of all of us.

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Thank you for considering a donation.

Debra