Walk for teacher’s journey

By Tania Martin
A MENZIES Creek Primary School teacher has gained strength from her students as they undertook a personal challenge while she faced chemotherapy.
Rianne Comport, 27, has been battling lymphoma since December.
The diagnosis rocked both Ms Comport and the whole school community.
But they jumped right behind her, organising Victoria’s biggest World Greatest Shave for a Cure team and raising more than $13, 600 for the Leukaemia Foundation.
More than 148 students, staff and parents took part in the event in March.
Ms Comport told the Mail at the time she couldn’t believe it when her school decided to take part in the event.
But the biggest support has been the students’ attempts to help make her chemotherapy treatment easier.
Every time Ms Comport had a treatment, the students took up a challenge of their own.
They walked to school from the corner of School Road down to the front gate which is about 500 metres.
Some even walked one kilometre, trekking up to the corner before returning to the school.
Principal Tanya Cook said it was something the kids and teachers could do to help.
She said Ms Comport had a phobia of needles and knowing the children were having their own minor challenge was a great comfort to her.
“It was just a nice thing to do,” Ms Cook said.
Ms Comport said it was a great support just knowing everyone was thinking about her during the treatment.
She said it was also good encouragement knowing the kids were offering their supporting in their own way.
Prior to her diagnosis Ms Comport had been experiencing chest pain but never expected cancer.
She has now undergone six rounds of chemotherapy which has killed off the cancerous mass but is still waiting to see if she needs to have a round of radiotherapy.
Ms Comport is also writing a blog on her experience, partly as therapy and to help others going through the same thing.
Those interested in following her battle can log onto dlbcljourney.blogspot .com.