Roodepoort, South Africa — For Steve Greenwood, his hands are central to almost every part of his working life.
The Roodepoort guitar teacher and musician works one-on-one with around 60 students each week and has spent the past nine years teaching, performing and writing music. Earlier this year, however, he developed carpal tunnel syndrome in his left hand, leaving him in constant pain and increasingly struggling to grip, play and demonstrate techniques to his students.
A BackaBuddy campaign has now raised R27,000 from 29 donors, including R3,000 in offline donations, towards a R50,000 goal to help cover the cost of surgery and related medical expenses.
Greenwood says the condition has reached the point where some mornings he struggles to grip anything and only regains more use of his hand later in the day.
On 8 October, he consulted a hand specialist and was advised that surgery was needed.
When Your Hands Are Your Livelihood
For Greenwood, the impact of the condition goes beyond discomfort.
“As a musician, my hands are essential to my work,” he explains in the campaign. “I need to be able to demonstrate techniques to my students, play instruments and perform.”
He says a cortisone injection initially brought some relief, but by August the pain had returned and worsened.
According to the campaign, the severity of his symptoms and concern around possible nerve damage led his specialist to recommend carpal tunnel release surgery after other treatment options had not provided enough relief.
Greenwood does not have the medical cover required for the procedure and says he cannot afford to carry the full cost himself.
The expected medical expenses include the orthopaedic consultation, hospital stay, surgery, surgeon and anaesthetist fees, as well as occupational therapy after the procedure.
The campaign estimates the surgery and related care at around R45,000, with supporting quotations and medical documents available on request.
Community Steps In to Keep the Music Going
The fundraiser was launched nine days ago and has already reached more than half of its R50,000 target.
Twenty-nine donors have contributed R27,000, with several messages reflecting the role Greenwood plays in the lives of his students, friends and fellow musicians.
One donor wrote: “Great guy, great guitarist, great sound engineer. Good luck.”
Another simply said: “Keep the music going.”
For Greenwood, the support is helping bring surgery within reach and, with it, the possibility of returning to teaching and performing without the same level of pain.
“It’s not easy asking for financial help, especially knowing that so many people have their own challenges to deal with,” he says.
The aim of the campaign is practical: cover the medical costs needed to treat his hand and give him the best possible chance of continuing the work that has shaped much of his adult life.
More Than a Medical Bill
Greenwood has built his career around teaching music one student at a time.
With around 60 students every week, his ability to use his hand directly affects both his income and the lessons he is able to give.
The campaign is therefore about more than paying for a procedure. It is also about protecting his ability to continue teaching, playing and performing.
For now, he is still working towards the remaining amount needed for surgery.
The first R27,000 has already shown that the people around him want to help.
To support Steve Greenwood, visit Steve Greenwood’s BackaBuddy campaign.
