Fred Benning (88) from Fish Hoek (Cape Town) is proving that determination and love can carry you through even the trickiest online hurdles. As South Africa marks Deaf Awareness Month this September, his story highlights what’s possible for people living with hearing loss who want to raise funds and share their voices. Profoundly deaf and a bilateral cochlear implant user, Fred launched a crowdfunding campaign on 20 June 2025 to support his wife of 86 years (and also as a birthday present), Denise, who is now paraplegic after White Spinal Cord Syndrome and requires full-time care. With patient guidance and a little humour, he turned devotion into action—one careful step at a time.
A determined love story, 64 years and counting
Denise is the kind of person who has spent a lifetime giving: a mother, community volunteer, and quiet doer. After a rare post-surgical complication left her permanently paraplegic, daily life changed overnight. Full-time care, wound care, physio, supplies, and non-chronic medication now stretch well beyond what medical aid covers. The family’s goal is simple: dignity for Denise, comfort at home, and a little breathing room each month.
For Fred, the decision to act was immediate. He might be 88 and profoundly deaf, but he is, in Tess’s words,
“an extremely determined bugger.”
Early messages landed in the customer-support inbox flagged: “PROFOUNDLY DEAF, WHATSAPP ONLY.” A chuckle followed—and then the work began.
There were dropped lines and do-overs; at one point, after Tess emailed to say Patience, the carer, could help set things up, Fred replied asking how on earth she knew about “Patience”—possibly forgetting the thirty-minute phone call that happened the week prior, with Patience relaying every sentence to Fred as it progressed. Through it all, the love story stayed centre stage: a husband doing everything he could for the woman who has given so much to others.
A peek into the story of Fred and Denise Benning: https://g.co/gemini/share/bd5284a1bfaa
What it takes to start a campaign when you’re living with hearing loss
Step by step, the team and family became Fred’s champions in the truest sense: supporters who helped navigate the platform while keeping the campaigner’s voice at the centre.
“We painfully went through every step very slowly over the phone,” says Tessa Rae Van Rensburg from the BackaBuddy team. “Just like my granny, Fred can be quite hasty in pushing buttons—we had to start over a few times. If this experience didn’t teach me patience, I don’t know what would. It also showed me that 88-year-olds can indeed use the platform when the love is strong enough, and being deaf doesn’t have to hold you back.”
The breakthrough came when Fred’s son, Alex Benning, joined as a co-champion. With Alex on board, uploads, forms, and verifications fell into place. Patience stayed close, relaying instructions and keeping spirits steady. Fred’s cochlear implants helped a little; clear written steps, screenshots, and kind repetition helped a lot. In the end, the page went live with photos, a heartfelt story, and a transparent breakdown of costs that donations would cover: Patience’s salary, Denise’s medication, and any outstanding medical bills or shortfalls not paid by medical aid. In every sense, this was inclusive crowdfunding in action—guided by champions, owned by the family’s voice, and built on patience.
How hope turns into help
This September’s focus on Deaf inclusion is more than a calendar moment; it is a call to action. Since launching on 20 June 2025, the campaign has received support from 11 donors—R18,100 given on the platform and a further R10,000 contributed off the platform—toward a goal of R300,000. Every contribution lightens the family’s monthly load and gives Denise the comfort and care she needs. It also honours a marriage of 64 years—and the relentless love of a husband who simply refuses to give up.
If you’ve ever wondered whether a loved one living with hearing loss could start a crowdfunding campaign, let this be your sign: it’s challenging, not impossible—and a champion makes all the difference. And if you’re deaf or hard of hearing and thinking this platform isn’t for you, think again. Find a trusted person to sit alongside you, create a short video with subtitles, add a few photos, and tell your story in your own words. If Fred can do it, so can you—and you’ll find a patient team on the other side, ready to walk you through one step at a time.
To support Fred and Denise Benning visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/fred-and-denise
Please share their story—your voice can help amplify hope and bring practical support to their home.
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