Tuesday, October 24, 2000:

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From Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Thursday, September 3, 1998

South African makes trek to benefit girl with Fanconi's anemia

By BRIAN WILLIAMS
Avalanche-Journal

South African Peter Geldenhuys is walking the walk and talking the talk across America - mostly to help an ailing 8-year-old girl back home.

Geldenhuys said Lauren Banhill of Benoni, South Africa, suffers from Fanconi's anemia. He said her family heard about his other charitable exploits from a radio show.

The 57-year-old Johannesburg resident - who relies on crutches because of an injured back - is more than halfway through his cross-country trip. The adventurer began his journey in Washington, D.C., and now is at a strategic stop - the hometown of his musical hero, Buddy Holly.

But Lauren is always foremost in his mind.

''It breaks down the bone marrow in the blood,'' he said of her disease. ''Every week she has to have blood transfusions.'' Geldenhuys said. ''They've given her eight to 10 months to live.''

Geldenhuys said he's raised about $20,000 for the girl, which he sends back in $500 increments. He hopes to arrive in San Francisco later this year.

He said a possible match for the girl has been located in Germany.

Armed with a 75-pound backpack and South African flag, Geldenhuys sports a T-shirt with the girl's picture on it and the plea: ''Help Lauren.'' And he isn't hesitant to whip out a picture of Lauren that shows the bags under her eyes caused by the disease.

''She's such a lovely kid,'' said Geldenhuys.

Geldenhuys said he tries to persuade people to become organ or marrow donors. He said a small blood sample can determine if people are a match for patients needing transplants.

He said Buddy Holly was immensely popular in South Africa and that Feb. 3, 1959, was a sad day.

''I'll never forget what they called 'The day the music died','' Geldenhuys said of Holly's death in a plane crash. ''The kids walked around like they had lost a family member.''

Geldenhuys came to Lubbock two years ago to celebrate what would have been Holly's 60th birthday. He raised money for the trip through a walk from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Geldenhuys said Holly, and not Elvis, is the true ''king of rock.''

He said his walk coincided with the Buddy Holly Music Festival this weekend. He also plans to see ''The Buddy Holly Story'' this week at the Cactus Theater.

These walks are nothing new to Geldenhuys. He said he's estimated that in three years he's walked 3,000 miles.

On Wednesday, Geldenhuys attended the United Way's Day of Caring at the Memorial Civic Center. Geldenhuys, who's in Lubbock until Tuesday, plans to present Mayor Windy Sitton with a South African flag and a letter from the mayor of Johannesburg. He also plans to track down relatives and associates of Holly.

''My average speed is two miles per hour,'' Geldenhuys said. ''I can only walk 15 to 20 miles a day. I can take the heat, but I can't take the humidity.''

Geldenhuys said donations for Lauren can be made to the Lauren Banfield Bone Marrow Transplant Fund at Nedbank, North Mead Mall, Benoni 1501, South Africa.