During the weeks following Tom Skye’s passing, something quiet and powerful has unfolded in Gqeberha, in the Eastern Cape. Through the HoHo Project‘s BackaBuddy campaign, a community has come together to honour a man who spent a large portion of his life trying to help others.
Over 23 days, a crowdfunding campaign started for Tom has raised R92 860, over taking its R70 000 goal, with support from 52 donors who wanted to stand alongside his family during a difficult time.
A Life That Chose to Pay it Forward
Tom Skye wasn’t defined by a simple story. He lived through addiction. He faced personal struggles that many around him never saw. But he also made a conscious decision, again and again, to try a different path. One of the most visible ways he did this was through walking. Over time, Tom walked more than 1 000 kilometres to raise awareness around addiction and mental health. And he kept going, not as a once-off challenge, but as something he returned to, almost daily.
Through the HoHo Project, he carried a message that stayed simple:
“One Love. We are all the same. We are all family.”
Tom was driven by a need to show up, connect people, and help where he could.
Holding a Place for Complexity
Tom’s story, like many, held both light and weight. While he gave back to others, he was still navigating his own trauma. Those close to him knew that his journey wasn’t easy. He was also preparing for something new, a baby on the way. A future that looked different. A chance to begin again. His passing has left a deep gap for those who knew and loved him.
A Community Responds
Since the campaign launched, messages have come through that reflect just how many lives Tom touched, often in ways that stayed with people over time.
“RIP Tommy 🪽🌿 You are and will continue to be sorely missed 🌿🤍🌿”
“RIP brother. It was great to connect again after all these years. One 💚”
“Tommy, thank you for the great memories growing up! You were and are a legend.”
“RIP bugger.”
Short messages. Honest ones. The kind people leave when words don’t fully cover what they feel. Some donations came from close friends. Others from people reconnecting after years. Some simply from those moved by his story and the impact he had on so many.
More Than a Crowdfunding Campaign
The funds raised will help cover Tom’s funeral costs and support his child on the way. But beyond the practical support, the campaign has become something else too.
A way for people to acknowledge his life.
A way to show compassion.
A way to stand with his family when it matters most.
The Spirit of the HoHo Project
The HoHo Project was built on connection. On the idea that people can show up for one another, even in small ways. That kindness doesn’t have to be structured to be meaningful. That same spirit is visible in how people have responded to Tom’s campaign. Not through one large gesture, but through many small ones, coming together to create something bigger.
Continuing What He Started
While Tom is no longer here, the message he shared still carries.
Connection matters.
Kindness matters.
Showing up for others matters.
For those who would like to support his family or learn more about the HoHo Project, the campaign remains open.
Support the HoHo Project campaign here.
Would you like to start your own crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy?
When people come together, even difficult moments can be carried differently. BackaBuddy has helped thousands of South Africans raise funds for causes that matter, from medical support to in-loving-memory campaigns and community initiatives.
If you need support, you can start your own campaign in a few simple steps. Sign up today.
