Valiant Swart Is Having An Auction To Support His Wife

Serious illness, whether your own or that of a loved one, has a huge impact on the lives of everyone involved. The popular SAMA acclaimed singer-songwriter and actor, Valiant Swart, and his wife can attest to this fact.

Lanelle & Valiant

Lanelle, who is also his agent, underwent cancer surgery two years ago. There has, however, been complications and she was recently diagnosed with lymphedema in her right leg, which could possibly spread to her left leg at a later stage.

“Lanelle is an iron lady and wonderful mother to our children. She has always had an active lifestyle and held the fort when I had to be on the road for work. Lymphedema has significantly changed her life,” says the musician who is best-known for his role in the Afrikaans drama, Song vir Katryn, and hits like Sonvanger and Eyeshadow.

As a result of her diagnosis, which will worsen over time, the active fifty-one-year-old mother – who still studies and enjoys hiking, swimming and travelling – plans for the future have been severely affected.

Pain, discomfort, strenuous treatments and exercise, as well as a strict diet have become her new reality… and travelling (which is essential for Valiant’s career) is now an unpleasant and tiring experience.

“My wife has to permanently wear uncomfortable, restrictive compression socks to prevent her legs from swelling and her condition from deteriorating. She also has to do special exercise every morning, without exception, to prevent swelling, pain and complications. Despite her disciplined exercise program and diet, she still experiences constant pain and discomfort, which makes normal things like driving exhausting,” he shares.

Fortunately, she has never been one to give up, and decided to fight back against this horrible disease.

After thorough research, they discovered that there is a micro-surgical procedure overseas to treat lymphedema. However, there are only a handful of institutions and surgeons who specialize in this treatment, and they were fortunate enough to find a highly regarded American specialist in Cleveland, Ohio, who wants to start treatment early in 2022.

“Lymphedema affects all aspects of my life. Apart from chronic swelling, pain and discomfort, it also affects my immune system and can lead to life-threatening bacterial infection. The worst for me is the fear that I might lose my mobility. This operation will give me a chance to function normally because it creates an alternative drainage route for the lymph, which helps to slow down tissue change and reduces the risk of infection,” says Lanelle.

The problem is that the procedure costs a small fortune, not to mention travel and accommodation expenses (before, during and after the operation).

To raise money for Lanelle’s treatment, the couple plans to host two auctions in the Cape and Gauteng – in collaboration with WOES.

“We would like to have two live auctions early in 2022. It will also be live-streamed at the same time to ensure a larger audience and provide an excellent advertising platform to advertisers,” Valiant explains.

In addition to performances by well-known artists, valuable Valiant Swart memorabilia will also be auctioned, including Jinx (his character in Song for Katryn)’s guitars (mounted in wooden display cases); a limited number of new electric guitars; handwritten and framed lyrics of hits like Songvanger, Die Mystic Boer, Eyeshadow and Duisend Myl Blues; the last remaining bottles of Mystic Boer brandy; signed framed photographs; artwork, and more.

“When Kobie from Vonk Musiek approached us to help raise funds for Lanelle, we immediately agreed,” says Jaco van Dyk, one of the founding members of WOES. “We would like to generate as much money as possible, as the couple still has a very uncertain road ahead of them.”

Funds will also be raised in three other ways:

  • The sale of advertising space on WOES’s online auction page;
  • Donations by individuals and institutions; and
  • Raffle tickets for prizes like a holiday, hunting weekend, golf package, spa getaway, fishing trip, wine, meat, beauty treatments and more. 

“WOES was established at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic to help artists, but has expanded rapidly to schools and other institutions,” Jaco explains. “We have already done ninety programs, including two ‘Ons Sal Self’ concerts (in association with Coleske Artists and Vocal Events) and two ‘Red Die Boer Restaurant’ concerts that made a big difference. Viewers enjoy the program because it gives them the opportunity to make a difference. We do what we love and are grateful that we are able to help as many people as possible in the process.”

The Gauteng auction will take place on 27 January 2022 at the The Blue Crane Restaurant in Pretoria.

Businesses and individuals who would like to make donations, sponsor prizes, buy advertising space or get involved can send an email to [email protected] for more information.

“I am already doing everything in my power to control the condition and have made several big lifestyle changes, but unfortunately this is not always enough, and I live with the constant fear that my other leg may also be affected. There are no guarantees that the operation will be a success, but it is my only hope, and we are grateful to everyone who has already gone out of their way to help raise funds for the procedure,” Lanelle concludes.

Tickets to attend the concert and auction will be available from Tixsa at https://bit.ly/31L2T1I.

Follow the event below.


Valiant Swart Hou Veiling Om Sy Vrou Te Ondersteun

Ernstige siekte, hetsy jou eie of die van ’n geliefde, het ’n reuse impak op al die betrokke partye se lewens. Daarvan kan die gewilde SAMA-bekroonde sanger, liedjieskrywer en akteur, Valiant Swart, en sy vrou getuig.

Lanelle & Valiant

Lanelle, wat ook sy agent is, het twee jaar gelede ’n kankeroperasie ondergaan. Sedertdien het daar egter komplikasies ingetree en is sy onlangs gediagnoseer met limfedeem in haar regterbeen, wat moontlik ook later na haar linkerbeen kan versprei.

Lanelle is ’n ystervrou en super-ma vir ons kinders. Sy het haar hele lewe lank ’n aktiewe leefstyl geleef en nog altyd die fort gehou as ek op die pad moes wees. Limfedeem het haar alledaagse bestaan aansienlik verander,” sê die musikant wat veral bekend is vir sy rol in die Afrikaanse drama, Song vir Katryn, en sy treffer, Sonvanger.

As gevolg van haar diagnose, wat met tyd gaan vererger, is hierdie aktiewe een-en-vyftigjarige ma – wat steeds studeer en gereeld stap, swem en reis – se toekomsplanne heeltemal omvergewerp.

Pyn, ongemak, strawwe behandelings en oefeninge, asook ’n streng dieet het haar nuwe normaal geword… en om ver te ry (wat noodsaaklik is vir Valiant se beroep) is nou ’n onaangename en vermoeiende ervaring.

My vrou moet dag en nag ongemaklike, beperkende kompressie-kouse dra om te voorkom dat haar bene opswel en toestand versleg. Sy moet ook elke oggend, sonder uitsondering, spesiale oefening doen om swelling, pyn en komplikasies te voorkom. Ten spyte van haar gedissiplineerde oefenprogram en dieet, ondervind sy steeds deurlopend pyn en ongerief en maak dit normale dinge soos karbestuur uitputtend,” deel hy.

Gelukkig was sy nog nooit iemand wat haar laat onderkry nie en het sy besluit om terug te baklei teen hierdie aaklige siekte.

Na deeglike navorsing, het hulle ontdek dat daar oorsee ’n mikro-sjirurgiese prosedure bestaan om limfedeem te behandel. Daar is egter net ’n handjie vol instansies en sjirurge wat hierin spesialiseer en hulle was gelukkig genoeg om ’n hoogaangeskrewe Amerikaanse spesialis in Cleveland, Ohio op te spoor, wat vroeg in 2022 wil opereer.

Limfedeem affekteer alle aspekte van my lewe. Buiten vir net chroniese swelling, pyn en ongemak, het dit ook ’n invloed op my immuunstelsel en kan dit lei tot lewensgevaarlike bakteriële infeksie. Die ergste vir my is die vrees dat ek my beweeglikheid kan verloor. Hierdie operasie sal my ’n kans gee om normaal te funksioneer omdat dit ’n alternatiewe dreineringsroete vir die limf skep, wat weefselverandering help vertraag en die kanse om infeksie op te doen verminder,” sê Lanelle.

Die probleem is egter dat die prosedure self ’n klein fortuin kos, om nie eers te praat van reis- en verblyfkoste (voor, gedurende en na die operasie) nie.

Om geld in te samel om Lanelle te help om teen die aaklige siekte te baklei, beplan die paartjie om – in samewerking met WOES – twee veilingsfunksies te hou in die Kaap en Gauteng.

Ons wil graag vroeg in 2022 twee lewendige veilingsfunksies hou. Dit gaan terselfdertyd ook aanlyn gestroom word om ’n groter gehoor te verseker en ’n uitstekende reklame-platform aan adverteerders te bied,” verduidelik Valiant.

Buiten vir optredes deur bekende kunstenaars, gaan daar ook waardevolle Valiant Swart-memorabilia opgeveil word, waaronder Jinx (sy karakter in Song vir Katryn) se kitare (gemonteer in hout- en glas-uitstalkaste); ’n beperkte aantal nuwe elektriese kitare; handgeskrewe en geraamde lirieke van treffers soos Songvanger, Die Mystic Boer, Eyeshadow en Duisend Myl Blues; die laaste oorblywende bottels Mystic Boer-brandewyn; getekende geraamde foto’s; kunswerke, ensovoorts.

Toe Kobie van Vonk Musiek ons skakel om te hoor of ons vir Lanelle sal help fondse insamel, was ons dadelik aan boord,” sê Jaco van Dyk, een van die stigterslede van WOES. “Ons sal graag soveel as moontlik wil insamel, aangesien die pad wat vir hulle voorlê finansieel nog baie onseker is.”

Fondse sal verder ook op drie ander maniere ingesamel word:

  • Die verkoop van advertensiespasie op WOES se aanlyn-veilingsblad;
  • Skenkings deur individue en instansies; en
  • Lootjieverkope op items soos ’n vakansie, jagnaweek, gholfpakket, spa-wegbreek, visvanguitstappie, wyn, vleis, skoonheidsbehandelings en vele meer.

WOES is oorspronklik aan die begin van die Covid-19 pandemie gestig om kunstenaars te help, maar het vinnig uitgebrei na skole en ander instansies,” verduidelik Jaco. “Ons het reeds negentig programme agter die blad, waaronder twee ‘Ons Sal Self’-konserte (in samewerking met Coleske Artists en Vocal Events) en twee ‘Red Die Boer Restaurant’-konserte, wat nie net groot hoogtepunte was nie, maar ook ’n broodnodige verskil gemaak het. Kykers geniet die program omdat hulle so ook die geleentheid kry om ’n verskil te maak. Ons doen waarvoor ons lief is en is dankbaar dat ons soveel mense as moontlik in die proses kan help.”

Die Gautengse konsert en veiling sal op 27 Januarie 2022 plaasvind by The Blue Crane Restaurant in Pretoria.

Besighede en individue wat graag skenkings wil maak, pryse wil borg, advertensiespasie wil koop of betrokke wil raak, kan ’n e-pos stuur na [email protected] vir meer inligting.

Ek doen reeds alles in my vermoë om die toestand deur leefstylveranderinge te beheer, maar dit is ongelukkig nie altyd genoeg nie en ek leef met die konstante vrees dat my ander been ook aangetas kan word. Dit is nie ’n uitgemaakte saak dat die operasie ’n sukses sal wees nie, maar dit is my enigste hoop en ons is dankbaar vir almal wat reeds uit hulle pad uit gegaan het om ons met die fondsinsameling te ondersteun,” sluit Lanelle af.

Kaartjies vir die veiling, lootjies en konsert sal aanlyn beskikbaar wees op Tixsa by https://bit.ly/31L2T1I.

Volg op YouTube.

By Andrew Germishuys

Founder of SAMDB | Actor | Armourer | Tech Enthusiast With over two decades in the film industry, I'm a seasoned actor and skilled armourer. I hold numerous certifications in acting and filmmaking, complemented by degrees and diplomas in IT and technology, giving me a unique blend of creative and technical expertise. When I'm not on set or in the workshop, you'll find me immersed in the world of gaming and VR, fuelling my passion for cutting-edge technology. Connect with me: X / Twitter Facebook Instagram Mastodon Threads Explore my work on SAMDB IMDb