Pals ensure poignant lasting legacy of Black Isle school pupil (10) who succumbed to leukaemia
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A FORMER pupil of North Kessock Primary who died in New Zealand two years ago after a brave battle with leukaemia will be forever remembered by his pals in Scotland.
An Open Day was held at the school and a tree planted beside a pergola at an outdoor garden space created in memory of ten year-old Tawonashe Mudzamiri.
Tawonashe attended the primary school and his little brother Mandla attended the school nursery.
Diagnosed in 2010 he began a three year course of treatment and the family moved up to Inverness in July 2011 from Sheffield when his father James got a job as a doctor at Raigmore Hospital.
His mum Patience was a nurse and teachers at the nursery and school have kept in touch with his family in Hamilton, New Zealand and his gran who lives in Zimbabwe.
Lorraine Toye, North Kessock early years practitioner said everyone was devastated when they learned of Tawonashe's passing two years ago.
"We were shocked to hear he had died. Losing a ten year-old is heart-breaking and we had support put in place for his friends at the school and of course the staff too who were all deeply upset when we got the news that Tawonashe had died. He was a lovely boy who really enjoyed music. His little brother was with us in the nursery and they had made lots of friends at the school. "
Lorraine said the parent council of the school had helped fund the pergola and a parent had paid for the tree which was planted by his teacher Hazel Munro and Hilary Sweeney, the mum of one of Tawonashe's best friends.
A helium balloon was also released at the open day at the school by one of Tawonashe's classmates.
"He'll never be forgotten and the school also has an annual award in his name," said Lorraine.
Tawonashe, who had to travel to Glasgow for his treatment every three months, would have attended Fortrose Academy this year had he survived.
The little boy loved football and supported Inverness Caley Thistle.
The family was forever grateful for the support they received from the CLIC Sargent children's cancer charity during their journey through Tawonashe's illness.
