Zander celebrates 18 years with a bikers birthday bash

Zander van Eeden, a brave young man in remission from leukaemia, celebrated his 18th birthday on April 10 with the support of Under His Coverings and a band of bikers. A roaring escort crew of at least 50 bikes gathered on that Saturday morning at The Bike Shop and Grill in Boksburg to surprise the birthday boy. Zander was nestled in a vintage sidecar motorbike that was driven by Les Silversten who volunteered last minute when another sidecar was cancelled the day before.

His mom, Melinda van Eeden, said: “While orchestrating the entire affair, Zander had no clue and was surprised that morning. “It was his dad’s birthday on the 10th and Zander’s birthday was the following day, April 11. “Zander insisted that his father’s birthday be celebrated on the Sunday instead since Zander’s Saturday bash was the most awesome birthday ever.”

Zander’s thrilling ride sparked the rebel in him when he said: “To ride with the bikers was so much fun, only next time I’d like to mount a Harley. We would just not tell the doctor about a thing.

“Thank you to everyone that made my 18th birthday so special, I don’t have words to describe the way I felt. When my dad and I entered the Bike Shop I was so surprised to see all those people and had no clue it was all for me. It made me feel so important, even afterwards when we arrived at the Marechelle Country Estate birthday venue. It was truly remarkable,” he swooned.

He also thanked his parents, sister, family, friends and the people who helped arrange his fun affair. “To Carike, Cindy from Dial-a-Platter, Madelein and all the bikers that made my day extraordinary, I thank you tremendously.”

Carike Pretorius from Under His Coverings was the puppet master of the event as a familiar support structure who met Zander at a cancer awareness event in 2019 when he was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Pretorius said: “Fortys Bikers Club and many other clubs gathered in support of this wonderful cause that surprised him with a special happy birthday convoy in honour of his recovery and acknowledging his walk through life. Zander is a current cancer fighter and survivor who touched bikers and so many other’s hearts.”

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After facing challenges with going back to school in the wake of Covid-19 and a sensitive immunity, Zander will have to finish his matric year through Teneo. He wants to enrol for graphic designing studies once he’s passed Grade 12.

“For now, he wants to focus on finishing his chemotherapy and schoolwork,” Melinda added. After a trying journey with Zander having faced death’s doorstep, Melinda was overjoyed to tell Express how much he has recovered thus far.

“It was hard seeing him at his lowest for months at a time during the pandemic, he was so weak and sick. But with his birthday, he looked like a healthy young man and we are ever grateful to our Lord and Saviour,” Zander’s mother concluded.

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