A former Rotorua teacher, who needed $100,000 for lifesaving cancer treatment, has died after losing his battle with colon cancer.
Whitinga Harris, father to two boys aged nine and 12, was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer late last year but hoped to extend his life through an unfunded cancer treatment.
The 31-year-old died on Sunday in Kawakawa Hospital surrounded by his family. He has been cremated.
Harris and his family were told by cancer specialists that Keytruda, an immunotherapy drug, could extend his life. Keytruda is unfunded in New Zealand. The family was told chemotherapy is not the ideal treatment for Harris's cancer type.
Several fundraising events were held in Rotorua and Northland for Harris' treatment.
Harris' sibling, Tainui Harris, started a Givealittle page in February for the treatment and to help provide for the family - as of June 26, the page has raised over $78,000.
"From graduation to hospital gown... Whitinga has a big fight on his hands. Let's get behind him!" the page says.
"His two sons Heremia and Waaka watched on as their hero, their Dad, pushed through his last semester... He was the first person in our family to go to university and we were all cheering him on as he reached the finish line.
"The floor crumbled beneath our feet as we heard the news. The future didn't seem so certain anymore."
Harris was doing teacher training in Rotorua when he collapsed at school. Subsequent tests discovered colon cancer that had spread to his stomach. He was due to start teaching at Western Heights Primary School, but moved back to Northland to undergo chemotherapy.
Seven-year-old Rotorua boy Miles Corbett raised more than $3000 for Harris by getting sponsorship for running the Rotorua Mini Marathon. He got to know Harris in his Year 3 class last year, NZME reports.
Harris' wife said the fundraising will now go towards their children's futures.
Newshub.
