Pretoria, Gauteng, When Jan-Hendrik Truter was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt’s lymphoma at just 32 years old, life changed almost overnight for his young family. What followed was months of chemotherapy, repeated hospital admissions, uncertainty, and the emotional strain of trying to hold a family together while fighting an aggressive cancer. But alongside the fear and exhaustion came something else too: extraordinary support.
Through their BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign, hundreds of people came together to help carry the Truter family through one of the most difficult chapters of their lives.
In just four months:
- R692 519 was raised
- 107% of the R650 000 goal was reached
- 425 donors contributed to the campaign
For Jan-Hendrik and his family, the impact of that support went far beyond the total raised.
A Young Family Facing the Unthinkable
At the beginning of 2025, Jan-Hendrik and his wife, Esteé had been building toward an exciting new season of life. The couple had invested their savings into starting a business and were raising their young son together while preparing to welcome their second child. Then came the diagnosis.
Jan-Hendrik was diagnosed with stage 4 Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare and highly aggressive cancer requiring immediate and intensive treatment. As their world shifted into cycles of chemotherapy, hospital stays, infections, and medical emergencies, family life became centred around survival. Their daughter was born on 1 December 2025, just one day before Jan-Hendrik began his fourth cycle of chemotherapy.
What should have been a joyful season became one marked by hospital rooms and uncertainty instead.
The Reality Behind Cancer Treatment
For months, Jan-Hendrik spent more time in hospital than at home. His treatment required week-long chemotherapy admissions followed by periods of recovery at home. But complications and infections often sent him back into hospital unexpectedly due to his weakened immune system. Even while receiving treatment, he continued trying to work remotely from his hospital room whenever he physically could.
But the financial pressure quickly became overwhelming. The family was now carrying:
- Ongoing medical costs
- Daily living expenses
- Reduced income
- The emotional toll of raising two young children during a medical crisis
And still, a bone marrow transplant remained ahead.
A BackaBuddy Cancer Crowdfunding Campaign Reaches Thousands
To help the family stay afloat during treatment, Esteé launched a BackaBuddy cancer crowdfunding campaign. What happened next became a powerful reminder of how deeply people are willing to show up when someone is facing the unimaginable. Donations came in from friends, family, strangers, and supporters across South Africa and beyond. People didn’t only give money.
They gave encouragement.
They shared the campaign.
They reminded the Truter family they were not carrying this alone.
And together, 425 donors helped the campaign surpass its target. To see the real time impact of the campaign, you can find it here.
The Impact Behind the Number
Raising nearly R700 000 is significant. But behind that number is something far more personal. It meant:
- More space for the family to focus on treatment
- Less immediate pressure around survival expenses
- More time with their children during an incredibly difficult season
- The ability to keep moving forward while Jan-Hendrik continued fighting for recovery
This is often the unseen impact of crowdfunding during illness. The donations don’t remove the diagnosis, but they can help carry some of the weight surrounding it. And sometimes, that support changes everything about how a family survives the journey emotionally.
What 425 Donors Made Possible
Campaigns like Jan-Hendrik’s remind us that community support is not just symbolic. It is practical. Tangible. Life-changing. Every contribution became part of something bigger:
- A family staying afloat
- Parents being able to focus on their children
- A young father continuing treatment without facing the burden completely alone
That’s the power of collective generosity. Hundreds of people, many of whom may never meet Jan-Hendrik personally, chose to stand beside his family anyway.
Why Crowdfunding Matters During Medical Crises
A medical crowdfunding campaign gives families a place to ask for help honestly and safely during moments when life becomes overwhelming. When medical emergencies happen, people often want to support but don’t always know how. Crowdfunding creates a practical way for communities to rally around someone in need, through donations, sharing campaigns, and offering encouragement during difficult seasons.
Jan-Hendrik’s campaign is a powerful example of what can happen when people come together around a family facing extraordinary challenges.
A Family Still Fighting, But No Longer Alone
Jan-Hendrik’s treatment journey continues. But what this campaign has already shown is that even in the hardest moments, people are willing to step forward for one another in remarkable ways. And for the Truter family, that support became more than financial assistance. It became hope.
Start Your Own Crowdfunding Campaign on BackaBuddy
Whether you’re facing medical costs, supporting a loved one, raising funds for education, animal welfare, community initiatives, or another meaningful cause, BackaBuddy gives South Africans a trusted place to ask for support when it matters most.
