Honouring Rocky
Rere Primary School students raised over $6000 for child cancer in memory of a much loved four-year-old who died last year after a courageous battle with a rare brain tumour.
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Rocky Sherratt died last November, six months short of his fifth birthday, after being diagnosed in October 2020 with an ependymoma PFA tumour.
Rere School principal David Milne said the pre-schooler was part of the Rere School playgroup and was known for his bubbly, energetic and happy personality.
His older brother Jonty attends Rere School.
Rocky’s courage and resilience following major surgery and extensive chemotherapy and radiation were an inspiration to everyone who knew him, Mr Milne said.
Rocky visited the school regularly in his last year and the small, close-knit community was devastated when the cancer returned.
The spell-a-thon fundraiser was a way to honour Rocky’s memory by raising funds for child cancer while lifting the spelling levels of students, Mr Milne said.
Rabobank’s Gisborne rural manager Aiden Starck came on board and donated scooters as the prize for the top fundraisers.
A morning tea was held last Wednesday to present the cheque to Hawke’s Bay Child Cancer Foundation family support coordinator Jean McGavock, who supported Rocky, his whānau and the community during his cancer journey.
The presentation included the official launch of a set of school values entitled Rere High Flyers Values Experts.
The values were developed in consultation with students, staff and parents.
Mr Milne said “Rocky Resilience” is one of the values that will keep Rocky’s memory at the forefront.
Rocky’s mother Lisa Sherratt said the family would like to thank all the children at Rere School for their amazing fundraising efforts and beautiful words about Rocky.
The Child Cancer Foundation (CCF) played an incredible role in supporting the family during Rocky’s journey.
“The assistance they offer families who are walking through their darkest days with their sick children is invaluable,” Mrs Sherratt said.
“Jean McGavock, the Gisborne CCF liaison, is a wonderful person who continues to support us.
“We feel very grateful to all the children at Rere School who raised this amazing amount of money that has been donated to this incredible charity.”
The students threw themselves into the spell-a-thon and the values project, taking charge of a lot of the organisation and planning and writing some wonderful stories, Mr Milne said.
One five-year-old student raised just over $1500 for the spell-a-thon, which Mr Milne said was an amazing effort.
A senior pupil, 13-year-old Manahi Maddock, was emcee for Wednesday’s morning tea.
“The students have been the stars of the show,” Mr Milne said.
“To serve such a hard-working, generous community who always rise to the occasion in the face of adversity is an extraordinary honour, and I ended the term feeling very proud of everyone.”
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