Young Secunda girl slowly losing her eyesight
Jacaranda FM's Good Morning Angels has assisted the Cornelissen family with R50,000 toward 10-year-old Luané Cornelissen’s treatment and the visual aids she needs to help her see and continue learning as she adapts to life with deteriorating vision.
As the winter cold starts to bite, Martin Bester is back on the Warm Fest trail, along with the Round Table and friends, to bring warmth to communities in need. Next up is Secunda in Mpumalanga, with a two-day festival taking place at Laerskool Trichardt this weekend, 11–12 July.
At one of the neighbouring schools, 10-year-old Luané Cornelissen and her family are facing an unexpected and heartbreaking challenge.
Luané is an energetic and passionate young acrobat, full of life and love for her family, friends, and pets. She began complaining about vision problems, prompting her mom, Uanita, to consult various local eye care practitioners.
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In May, a specialist in Pretoria diagnosed Luané with Stargardt’s disease, a rare genetic condition that affects central vision and leads to progressive vision loss.
This condition is irreversible, and Luané's eyesight will continue to deteriorate over time.
“It’s hit her hard—as well as us,” says Uanita. “She now needs special spectacles, sunglasses, and low-vision aids to help her manage learning and daily life, knowing that one day she might be legally blind.”
Sadly, their medical aid does not cover these essential visual aids, which are critical for Luané to continue with school and stay connected with her friends. Uanita says the impact on Luané’s schoolwork is already evident and incredibly difficult for her to deal with.
The family has launched a fundraising initiative to raise R60,000, which will go toward Luané’s assistive devices and tools. This amount does not include travel expenses for ongoing appointments from Secunda to Pretoria.
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So far, the Secunda community has raised more than R20,000, but time is running out for Luané to begin the new school term with the visual aids she urgently needs.
That's why her aftercare teacher and other caring members of the community reached out to Good Morning Angels.
REQUEST FOR: 10-year-old Luané Cornelissen
REQUEST FROM: Andine van Rooyen, Luané’s aftercare teacher
ANGEL 1: The Good Morning Angels Fund NPC
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SPONSORING: The Good Morning Angels Fund will assist the Cornelissen family with R50,000 toward Luané’s treatment and all the visual aids she needs to help her see and continue learning as she adapts to life with deteriorating vision.
ANGEL 2: Retha Ingenbleeck, representing SPAR North Region
SPONSORING: In support of Warm Fest, SPAR retailers in the Northern Region have collectively contributed 1,500 blankets; 500 each for Secunda, East Rand, and Tzaneen, valued at R300,000 to bring warmth to those who need it most this winter.
ORIGINAL REQUEST:
Good day Angels,
I hope this message finds you well. My name is Andine van Rooyen, and I’m writing to kindly request the support of Good Morning Angels in raising awareness and funds for a young girl who is in urgent need of assistance.
Luané is a 10-year-old from Secunda, a vibrant and active acrobat full of life and love for her family, friends, and animals. In May 2025, she was diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease—a condition that affects her central vision and is causing her to slowly lose her sight. The news has been incredibly difficult for her and her family. She now requires specialised spectacles, sunglasses, and low-vision aids to help her learn, grow, and navigate daily life with the knowledge that she may one day be legally blind.
Unfortunately, no surgery can help, and medical aid does not cover these essential aids, as this condition is considered rare and not part of standard coverage.
We are appealing to Good Morning Angels for assistance in raising R60,000 to provide Luané with the necessary tools to continue her education and lead a fulfilling life despite her diagnosis. With your support and the generosity of your audience, I believe we can make a life-changing impact.
All funds raised will go directly toward her medical care and essential aids. I am happy to provide any supporting documentation or medical records upon request.
Thank you for considering this heartfelt appeal. I believe that, with your help, we can bring hope, healing, and the gift of sight to this incredible little girl.
Warm regards,
Andine van Rooyen
(Luané’s aftercare teacher)
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Image: Supplied/ Luané Cornelissen