In the sunny city of Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal, Ashleigh and her family launched a crowdfunding campaign for their son Benjamin earlier this year, they weren’t asking people to fund a miracle. They were asking for help giving him the best possible chance.
Born three months premature in 2024, Benjamin has faced neurological complications and diplegia, challenges that have placed him on a different path from many children his age. But his family has never lost sight of what they believe is possible.
“We believe he will not only walk one day, but run on his own,” they shared when launching the campaign.
Four months later, thanks to the generosity of friends, family, and supporters from across South Africa, Benjamin is one step closer to that goal.
Through their campaign on BackaBuddy, more than R188 000 was raised by 90 donors, surpassing the family’s R150 000 target and helping fund the intensive therapies, specialised equipment, and developmental support needed during a critical stage of Benjamin’s growth.
It’s Been a Journey Built on Hope and Hard Work
For the Duggan family, early intervention has never been optional.
The therapies Benjamin requires go far beyond what medical aid can cover, and timing matters. The early years of a child’s development offer an important window for neuroplasticity, when the brain has an extraordinary ability to adapt, learn, and create new pathways. Knowing this, the family committed to giving Benjamin every opportunity possible.
The campaign was created to help fund:
- Intensive therapy sessions
- Specialised mobility equipment
- Therapeutic support tools
- Home-based therapy resources
- Ongoing developmental care
Every contribution would help build a stronger foundation for Benjamin’s future.
Benji’s Community Chose to Believe
An outpouring of support followed the opening of the campaign. Donations arrived alongside messages of encouragement, prayer, and hope from people who chose to become part of Benjamin’s story.
One donor shared:
“Your faith is such a pure and wonderful example to us. God bless you all and be with you. That little boy’s smile is too wonderful.”
Another wrote:
“We believe in God’s grace and Benji’s walk to freedom. We are here to journey with you and love on your family.”
These messages became reminders that the family wasn’t carrying this journey alone. While crowdfunding helps meet practical needs, it often provides something just as valuable: reassurance that people care.
The Impact Behind the Donations
The campaign exceeded its goal, raising 125% of the target amount, giving the family the resources to move forward confidently with Benjamin’s care plan.
In a recent update, Ashleigh shared that Benjamin is working tirelessly each week through multiple therapy sessions with specialists guiding his progress. The funds raised are already helping make important milestones possible. One of the most significant moments came with the arrival of Benjamin’s splints and AFOs, specialised orthotic devices designed to support standing and movement.
For the family, it marked the beginning of a new chapter.
“In the next week, his splints and AFOs arrive, allowing him to begin standing and using walking equipment for the first time. A sacred milestone for us.”
It’s the kind of milestone that may seem small to some, but for families navigating developmental challenges, it represents months of effort, determination, and hope.
More Than Financial Support
One of the most powerful aspects of crowdfunding is that it allows people to participate in a journey they genuinely care about.
The 90 donors who supported Benjamin’s campaign didn’t simply contribute towards therapy costs. They invested in possibility. They helped provide access to specialists, equipment, and interventions that may shape the course of Benjamin’s future. And in doing so, they gave a family the freedom to focus on progress instead of financial pressure.
Why Medical Crowdfunding Matters
For many South African families, accessing specialised therapies and developmental support can place significant strain on household finances. Even when medical aid is available, essential treatments, equipment, and ongoing interventions are not always fully covered.
Medical crowdfunding helps bridge that gap.
Through BackaBuddy, families are able to share their stories, mobilise support, and access funding for the care that helps their loved ones thrive. In Benjamin’s case, that support is helping ensure that financial limitations don’t stand in the way of early intervention during one of the most important stages of his development.
Are you thinking of starting a medical crowdfunding campaign for a cause you care about? This is a great place to start.
A Future Filled With Possibility
The Duggan family knows there are still many unknowns ahead. Further neurological assessments will come later this year, and Benjamin’s journey is far from over. But today, there is progress. Milestones are being reached. There is standing equipment ready to be used. And most importantly, there is a little boy surrounded by people who believe in his future.
As Ashleigh wrote in her update:
“We choose faith over fear.”
Thanks to the generosity of 90 donors, that faith is now backed by the practical support needed to keep moving forward.
