by Tessa Van Rensberg | Mar 13, 2026 | Fundraising Tips, Sport Fundraising
Behind every young athlete chasing their dream is a community that helps them get there. Whether it’s representing their school, competing nationally, or travelling internationally for tournaments, youth sports can open incredible opportunities for growth, discipline, and confidence. But for many families and young athletes in South Africa, the financial costs of pursuing sport can be overwhelming. This is where crowdfunding for youth sports can make a real difference.
Travel costs, equipment, training programmes, competition fees, and accommodation often add up quickly, sometimes placing talented athletes at risk of missing life-changing opportunities. Platforms like BackaBuddy are helping families, schools, and sports clubs raise funds online, allowing communities to support the next generation of champions.
Why Crowdfunding Works for Youth Sports
Youth sport is about more than competition. It’s about community. When a young athlete earns an opportunity to compete at a higher level, people naturally want to support them. Crowdfunding makes it easy for friends, family, coaches, and supporters to contribute in a transparent and organised way.
Crowdfunding works particularly well for sports campaigns because:
- The goal is clear and measurable
- The athlete’s journey is inspiring
- Supporters feel personally invested in their success
- Progress can be shared along the way
Many successful campaigns begin with small contributions from a wide network of supporters who believe in the athlete’s potential.
How to Crowdfund for Youth Sports on BackaBuddy
Step 1: Share the Athlete’s Story
Every successful campaign begins with a story. Explain who the athlete is and what makes their journey special. Include details like:
- Their age and where they are from
- The sport they compete in
- Their achievements so far
- The opportunity they have been selected for
For example, being chosen for a provincial team, national championship, or international competition can inspire supporters to get behind the campaign.
Step 2: Clearly Explain the Costs
Transparency builds trust. Break down the fundraising goal, so donors understand exactly what they’re supporting. Typical youth sports costs include:
- Travel and flights
- Accommodation during tournaments
- Competition entry fees
- Training and coaching costs
- Sports equipment and uniforms
- Visa or travel documentation for international competitions
Showing the financial breakdown helps donors feel confident about their contribution.
Step 3: Use Photos and Video
Sports campaigns perform well when supporters can see the athlete in action. Include:
- Photos of training or competitions
- Videos of highlights or achievements
- Team photos or medal moments
Visual storytelling allows donors to connect with the athlete’s journey.
Step 4: Start With Your Inner Circle
The first donations usually come from people who already believe in the athlete. Share the campaign link with:
- Friends and family
- Coaches and teammates
- School communities
- Sports clubs and supporters
WhatsApp and social media are powerful tools for spreading the message quickly.
Step 5: Encourage Sharing
Crowdfunding works best when the campaign spreads beyond the athlete’s immediate network. Encourage supporters to:
- Share the campaign on social media
- Send the link to friends or colleagues
- Post messages of encouragement
Every share increases the chance of reaching new supporters.
Step 6: Keep Supporters Updated
As the campaign grows, updates help maintain excitement and trust. Share milestones such as:
- Reaching 25%, 50%, or 100% of the goal
- Preparing for competition
- Training updates
- Tournament results
Supporters love seeing how their contributions are making a difference.
Youth Sports Campaign Ideas
Crowdfunding can support a wide range of youth sports opportunities, including:
- National or provincial team selection travel costs
- International tournament participation
- Sports academy or scholarship programmes
- Equipment and uniform funding
- School sports tours
- High-performance training camps
- Paralympic and adaptive sports support
- Community sports development programmes
Each campaign helps ensure that talent and dedication are not limited by financial barriers.
Why BackaBuddy Is Ideal for Youth Sports Crowdfunding
BackaBuddy provides a trusted platform that allows families and teams to raise funds securely while keeping supporters updated on progress.
Key features include:
- Dedicated campaign pages for each athlete or team
- Real-time donation totals and progress tracking
- Multiple payment methods, including card, EFT, debit order, and PayPal
- Campaign updates to keep donors informed
- A supportive community of donors across South Africa
These tools help athletes focus on their training while the community rallies behind them.
Supporting the Next Generation
Every champion begins somewhere. For young athletes, the journey often starts with a dream, hours of training, and the encouragement of a community that believes in them. Crowdfunding allows the community to play a meaningful role in helping young athletes reach their potential. When supporters come together to fund opportunities for youth sports, they are not just supporting an athlete; they are investing in discipline, confidence, teamwork, and the future of sport. Because sometimes all a young champion needs is the chance to step onto the field.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Mar 13, 2026 | Press Release
Pretoria, Gauteng — Liza Groenewald (56), a long-distance runner from Pretoria and a familiar presence in the local running community, is now facing an intensive rehabilitation journey after being diagnosed with cancer in December 2025.
After qualifying for the Comrades Marathon earlier that month, she underwent two surgeries, including brain surgery in early 2026 after the cancer spread to her brain, which left her paralysed on the left side of her body.
A crowdfunding campaign has since been launched to raise R150,000 to support her recovery.
From Comrades Qualification to Medical Crisis
For more than two decades, Liza has been part of Pretoria’s running community. She is known not only for her endurance, but also for the encouragement she offers to others.
Fellow runners describe her as someone who shows up before sunrise, trains consistently, and often sacrifices her own race goals to help others through difficult kilometres.
In November 2025, she qualified to run her 7th Comrades Marathon in 2026, bringing her closer to her long-term dream of earning her green permanent number by completing 10 Comrades marathons.
Soon after celebrating that achievement, she received a diagnosis that would change everything.
Now a Cancer Diagnosis
In December 2025, Liza underwent a hysterectomy where doctors discovered a growth that was diagnosed as cervical cancer.
“She went for a hysterectomy in December 2025, where a growth was found and it was diagnosed as cervical cancer,” her supporters confirmed.
Further urgent treatment followed. In early 2026 she underwent brain surgery after the cancer spread to her brain. While the procedure was necessary, it resulted in paralysis on the left side of her body.
“She is currently hospitalised, still paralysed on one side and receiving her first round of cancer treatment,” supporters explained.
For a runner whose life has been built around movement, the adjustment has been profound. Recovery now depends on cancer treatment, regular scans, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and structured rehabilitation to help her regain strength and mobility.
“After the first round of cancer treatment, she will most likely return to a rehabilitation centre for physical rehabilitation on the left side of her body before her cancer treatment is re-evaluated,” her supporters said.
Her recovery journey may take significant time.
“It will most likely be months and perhaps up to a year before she is fully recovered and able to work again.”
While her medical aid covers hospitalisation and primary cancer treatment, it does not cover several essential costs such as ongoing scans to measure progress, intensive rehabilitation through third-party providers, home care support, assistive devices or income loss during recovery.
The R150,000 fundraising goal aims to help bridge that gap so she can focus fully on healing.
The Community That Runs Together
The campaign, launched by Zelna Black, has already raised R49 000 in just 20 days from 44 donors. Messages accompanying donations reflect the affection and respect the running community has for Liza.
“Sterkte Liza! Dis net nog ‘n bult. Jy kan hom wen,” one supporter wrote — comparing her recovery to another hill she will conquer.
Another donor shared, “We love and back you all the way!!! Stay strong!!!”
Supporters say the response has deeply moved her.
“She is very touched and humbled. People know her well, and from the responses you can see how many people she has helped on the road and whose hearts she has touched.”
For Liza, the support has also brought emotional relief during an overwhelming time.
“She is very grateful and their generosity is helping her focus on her healing process,” her supporters shared. “At one stage she wanted to give up because she was worried about her medical bills piling up. Now this support gives her peace of mind that the bills are being covered and she can focus her energy on recovery.”
To support Liza visit her BackaBuddy campaign here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/stand-with-liza-a-pretoria-running-legend-recover
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Mar 13, 2026 | Press Release
Patrick Garratt (75) from Cape Town, a lifelong fisherman and passionate surfer, has regained his independence after 19 supporters raised R54,880 in just nine days to fund an electric wheelchair following a devastating stroke.
The campaign, launched by his daughter Su Huggett after Pat suffered a stroke while surfing in Muizenberg on 24 April 2024, exceeded its R50,000 target, reaching 110% of its goal. The wheelchair has now been purchased and delivered, giving Pat renewed mobility, dignity and the ability to experience life beyond the confines of frail care.
For decades, Pat’s life revolved around the ocean. A dedicated fisherman for most of his working years, he made a bold decision the year before retirement — he took up surfing. His reasoning was simple: surf while he still could, fish later when he was less mobile.
Surfing quickly became his daily ritual. At Muizenberg, he became known as one of the familiar older heroes, often the first in the water each morning, sharing the surf report. Younger surfers admired his grit. Being in the waves gave him purpose.
Pat also spent his professional life connected to the ocean. According to his daughter Su, “Dad has been a marine biologist all his life and before retirement he was Director of the Two Oceans Aquarium.” In addition to his work in marine conservation, Pat is also an author who has written several books about his life and experiences at sea.
Then, on an ordinary morning doing what he loved most, everything changed.
The Day the Sea Went Quiet
On 24 April 2024, fellow surfers noticed Pat was in distress. He had suffered a stroke in the water. They brought him safely to shore before he was rushed to hospital, where the diagnosis was confirmed.
Stroke recovery is rarely predictable. Pat’s determination to fully recover was strong, but rehabilitation proved challenging. After trying to remain at home, he moved into Murambi House, a frail care facility close to his wife, Alice, who visits every day.
While the care has been compassionate, what Pat missed most was independence — the ability to move freely, step outside when he wished, and reconnect with the world beyond his room.
A Spark of Determination
At Murambi House, Pat formed a friendship with Kevin, a double amputee who lives with extraordinary independence and regularly visits Muizenberg beach with his carer.
Kevin’s words resonated deeply:
“You must do what you can, for as long as you can.”
That mindset reignited Pat’s drive. He wanted to regain mobility. He wanted to join family outings and spend time outdoors. He wanted, in his own way, to feel free again.
The solution was an electric self-propelling wheelchair.
The financial reality of stroke recovery — therapy, medical care and long-term support — had already stretched resources. The wheelchair was beyond reach.
So Su launched the campaign.
Wheels of Freedom Delivered
In just nine days, 19 donors came together to raise R54,880 — surpassing the R50,000 target.
The response moved the family deeply.
“The tears were welling up when he spoke about the overwhelming gratitude of people,” Alice shared. “He is so happy to have this new kind of freedom.”
Messages poured in:
“Here’s to your imminent wheels of freedom Pat!”
“Keep moving Dr Pat, huge love.”
“By sea or by land, you will keep moving!”
Friends also shared playful encouragement after seeing Pat test his new wheels.
“Looks like he aced it. Congrats doc — now he needs a driver’s licence for that thing!” one supporter joked.
The wheelchair has now been delivered. Photos shared by the family show Pat on his first test drive — upright, smiling, independent.
The family hopes to take him on his first outing soon, with a visit to Kirstenbosch Gardens planned in the coming days.
For those close to him, the campaign was about far more than equipment.
“The response says a huge amount about who Pat is,” Alice reflected. “It has been incredibly moving to see so many people wanting to help.”
This was more than fundraising. It was a community restoring dignity.
The ocean once gave Pat freedom. Now, his community has given some of that freedom back.
To read more about Pat visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/a-man-of-the-sea-a-wheelchair-for-pat
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Mar 13, 2026 | Press Release
Pretoria, Gauteng — When Tinus Greyling lost control of his legs on the night of 10 August 2025, his life changed within hours. By the following morning, he had woken up completely paralysed from the chest down. Today, just months later, he is rebuilding his life — supported by a community that has rallied behind him in extraordinary fashion.
After extensive testing, Tinus was diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis, a rare neurological condition in which inflammation of the spinal cord causes severe nerve damage. What began as flu a week earlier triggered an autoimmune response that attacked his spinal cord, leaving him paraplegic from the T5 level downward.
He lost abdominal muscle function, bladder and bowel control, and all motor and sensory function in his legs. Even coughing became physically demanding due to the loss of core strength.
From Crisis to Community Support
Following emergency treatment — including high-dose steroids, immunotherapy and plasma exchange — Tinus was transferred to a specialised spinal rehabilitation hospital. There, he spent six weeks relearning essential daily tasks: dressing himself, transferring safely into a wheelchair, and adapting to a new way of living.
Medical specialists later confirmed that the spinal cord damage was severe and likely permanent. With no further conventional treatment options available, Tinus and his family were faced with a future that looked very different from the one they had imagined.
But what followed was something few could have anticipated.
Eight days after launching the BackaBuddy campaign Holding Hope: A Journey After Transverse Myelitis, the community responded with overwhelming generosity. The campaign not only reached its R120,000 goal — it surpassed it, raising R146,973 from 87 donors.
Messages of encouragement poured in alongside donations. “Godspeed Tinus, you got this,” one supporter wrote. Another shared, “Hang in there buddy.” Friends, family and even international donors contributed, turning a moment of medical crisis into a powerful display of collective care.
Investing in Independence and Long-Term Hope
The funds raised will directly support Tinus’s essential and long-term needs, including:
- Stem cell therapy through the South African Stem Cell Institute
- Chronic medication and neuropathic pain management
- Daily catheter supplies not fully covered by medical aid
- Adaptive driving controls to restore independence
- Ongoing rehabilitation and long-term care
Tinus has already undergone a bone marrow harvest and cell preparation as part of his stem cell treatment plan — a step that offers cautious hope for functional improvement.
While medical aid covered the initial emergency response, many ongoing costs fall outside coverage. The funds raised ensure that Tinus and his family can focus on recovery and adaptation without the immediate pressure of financial uncertainty.
Relearning Life, Redefining Strength
Now back home in Pretoria, Tinus continues outpatient rehabilitation. He is mastering advanced wheelchair skills and preparing for adaptive driving modifications that will allow him to drive again and eventually return to work.
Though medical opinions suggest his paraplegia may be permanent, Tinus’s journey has become one of resilience rather than limitation.
The success of the campaign reflects more than financial support — it represents belief. Belief in dignity. Belief in possibility. Belief that no one should face life-altering medical challenges alone.
To read more about Tinus’s journey, visit:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/holding-hope-a-journey-after-transverse-myelitis
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Mar 13, 2026 | Press Release
Mbombela, Mpumalanga — Tristan was critically injured in a car accident on 21 February 2026 and is currently fighting for his life at Rob Ferreira Hospital. Close friends and family have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise R500,000 for an urgent transfer to Mediclinic Nelspruit, where he can receive advanced neurological care and potential surgical intervention.
The accident involved Tristan and four friends. Since then, he has remained in critical condition, suffering from severe brain trauma and continuous seizures as doctors work to stabilise him.
Medical teams at Rob Ferreira Hospital have provided emergency care, but his condition now requires specialised neurological support that may only be available at a private facility. According to those close to the family, the transfer could significantly impact his treatment options and long-term outcome.
A Family at His Bedside
Tristan’s loved ones describe him as someone who is consistently present for others, dependable, kind and deeply loyal. Since the accident, his family has remained at his bedside, navigating the emotional strain of uncertainty while focusing on securing the care he urgently needs.
The campaign, launched just one day ago, has already raised R29,160 from 39 donors — an early sign of community support. However, the R500,000 target reflects the high cost of emergency transfer, intensive neurological treatment and possible surgical procedures.
Why the Funds Are Needed
The funds will be used for:
- Emergency transfer to Mediclinic Nelspruit
- Specialist neurological care
- Potential brain surgery
- Intensive care unit costs
- Ongoing treatment and monitoring
Severe traumatic brain injuries require rapid and specialised intervention. Access to advanced neurological facilities can influence both survival and long-term recovery outcomes.
Community Support in Action
Messages of support have begun to pour in as friends and extended community members rally around Tristan and his family. For his loved ones, this early momentum provides encouragement during an otherwise overwhelming time.
While his medical team continues to monitor his condition hour by hour, his supporters are focused on ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of critical care.
A Race Against Time
At present, Tristan remains in a fragile state. His family’s priority is securing the transfer and specialist treatment as quickly as possible.
The coming days will be crucial — not only medically, but in mobilising the community support needed to give him the best possible chance at recovery.
To support or share Tristan’s campaign, visit:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/tristan-please-help-us-save-his-life
