by Tessa Van Rensberg | Aug 7, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
Kelby Parker (52) from West Rand – Gauteng is a husband, dad, mentor and off-road motorcycle enthusiast — a HUGE (for the people in the back, HUGE) KTM loyalist (KTM is an Austrian manufacturer famous for its off-road motor bikes and diehard fans) — whose life flipped in July when he was rushed to ICU for emergency surgery. What first looked like a prostate problem was in fact a ruptured colon abscess that triggered severe sepsis. He’s now facing Stage III colon cancer. The community he’s spent years lifting up is lifting him right back, so he can stay for the moments that matter: his daughter’s wedding, his son’s 18th, and his 30th anniversary with Fiona.
A love that began in primary school
Kelby and Fiona’s story reads like “The NoteBook 2” but with motorbikes. They met as kids in Alberton; he was a prefect, she was in Standard 3. Friendship deepened when Kelby worked at the local pool club, and when he left for the army, Fiona gifted him a chain engraved, “To Kelbs, Love Sis.”
On her 19th birthday, everything changed. “Something shifted that night,” Fiona recalls. “We spoke the whole evening, just the two of us… he kissed me over the wall — I fell hook, line and sinker.”
Ask around and you’ll hear the same about Kelby: he lights up a room and would “literally give you the shirt off his back.” He’s sponsored Moto-X riders, taken in children from unstable homes, hosted an exchange student, and — as daughter Kyla remembers — once drove through the night to Durban to support a colleague’s grieving family. “Dad’s got a really big heart,” she says simply.
The day everything changed
In January 2025, cramps sent Kelby to the GP — again and again. Blood tests suggested an enlarged prostate, and medication followed. When the symptoms wouldn’t clear, the urologist booked surgery for the earliest available date, 18 June. But recovery never came. “We held on for two weeks, hoping to see improvement, but it just didn’t happen,” Fiona says. They called the urologist on 30 June, got an MRI on 2 July, and by 3 July were urgently referred to a gastroenterologist. On 7 July, Kelby was admitted straight to ICU for an emergency, life-saving operation. Surgeons flushed his system and resectioned his bowels, leaving him with a colostomy bag — but they saved his life.
“Absolutely nothing,” Kelby says of what went through his mind before surgery. “I feel like I was completely numb… I truly believe my body was shutting down.”
He remembers the beeping machines, his hand instinctively reaching to his face to check for a ventilator, and “the absolute fear” on his family’s faces. For Fiona and the kids, the speed and severity of it all felt unreal: confusing, shocking, and terrifyingly fast.
Then came the final blow: pathology confirmed Stage III colon cancer. Chemotherapy lies ahead, likely delaying any colon reconstruction. How are they holding on?
“Belief! Where else do you turn in situations like this?” Kelby says. “We’re such a tight-knit family… and seeing everyone I’ve ever known reaching out to help not only me but my family too — it matters.”
When the helper needs help
On 10 July 2025, Fiona launched a BackaBuddy campaign to keep Kelby’s fight alive. Their OnePlan medical insurance covered R85,000 — exhausted on day one in ICU. Since then, the bills have kept rising, but so has the generosity: 74 donors have already contributed R268,100 toward the R380,000 target. Every rand will go directly to the family to settle hospital accounts and pay for Kelby’s ongoing treatment.
For Kelby, hope now has faces and names — and very real milestones. He wants to walk Kyla down the aisle, celebrate Troy-Lee’s 18th in January 2026, and toast 30 years of marriage with Fi in February.
“I just want to be able to hug my wife and kids again — a real tight hug,” he says. “I want to load up the bikes with Troy and Jordan and spend the day in the sun with friends and family… I’m optimistic, we will get there!”
Fiona says the support shown has flooded their home with hope:
“The support from angels across the world—from strangers to family, customers, suppliers, friends—has left us completely speechless. It really does restore your faith in humanity.”
To support Kelby Parker visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/life-saving-procedure-for-kelby-parker
Please share his story — every donation, message, and share helps keep this devoted dad, husband and KTM superfan on the road to recovery.
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by Tessa Van Rensberg | Jul 30, 2025 | Campaign, Impact
A Long Road Back to His Feet
Carel’s latest challenge wasn’t just about physical fitness — it was about healing and giving thanks for the “second chance” he felt he’d received. In 2024, a devastating firestorm in Jamestown left him with a broken back and pelvis, forcing him to face the terrifying possibility of permanent immobility. For months, he had to learn how to walk again. Even walking 100 meters with crutches felt like a small victory.
During this time, the support from their community carried them through.
Marié recalls, “We were blown away… My children came home every day with a Woolies bag full of food. People took time to come visit, to speak with Carel. It reminded us how important it is not to live in your own bubble,” she said.
But slowly, day by day, strength returned.
“That’s when I realized — I think I’m getting stronger and better now… it felt so good just to be able to move again and have that freedom again,” Carel shared. With his mobility restored, he set his sights on something few have ever completed — the Extreme Triathlon.
Only around 15 people have ever achieved it. It involves three grueling events: running the Comrades Marathon, cycling the 2130km Freedom Challenge, and rowing the 240km Berg River Canoe Marathon — back-to-back. Carel had attempted it before in 2023, but this time was different.
“I realized that I have the ability and the mobility… I’ll be doing it out of gratefulness and just, you know, being in that position where you would be deprived of things — just to realise again how grateful you should be for the blessings you have,” Carel shared.
Carel, running the Comrades Marathon
The Meeting That Changed Everything
While Carel was taking on the Extreme Triathlon, Marié and Carel started thinking about how they could give back, inspired by his renewed ability to move and live fully. It was during the Freedom Challenge — that the Bothas reached out to find someone who needed help. Through a neighbour in Jamestown, they were introduced to Lizzie and her son, Requelmy, an 18-year-old who had been paralyzed since birth and had lived for years without a proper wheelchair.
Carel and family, after completing The Freedom Challenge
Moved by his story, Carel decided to dedicate the remainder of Carel’s epic journey to raising funds for a custom wheelchair for him.
Carel, having recently regained his own mobility, felt an immediate and deep connection to Requelmy’s struggle.
“It brought tears to his eyes… it was so sad for him that an 18-year-old guy is stuck in the situation where he has to wait years for a wheelchair,” Marié said. “He knows how it feels to not be able to move freely the way you want to… it was a perfect match.”
Powered by Gratitude, Fueled by Community
The couple launched a BackaBuddy campaign on 24 June 2025 with the goal of raising R18,000 to buy Requelmy a custom wheelchair. In the weeks that followed, 35 donors — a mix of family, friends, and generous strangers — helped them exceed their goal, raising R22,250.
The journey to that victory was not easy.
“My arms really started paining… I thought, I’m not gonna make it. I won’t be able to use my arms any further… it was a tough, dark time,” Carel remembers from the Berg River Canoe Marathon. “I had a little prayer when things were really hard… and moments after that, it seemed like things just became easier.”
Carel, after finishing the Berg River Canoe Marathon
Paying It Forward
Requelmy’s wheelchair has now been ordered — a life-changing gift, made possible by Carel’s endurance and the generosity of the community. But the Bothas aren’t stopping there. With an extra R3,000 still available, they’ve reopened the campaign to find their next mobility buddy who needs a wheelchair.
“We know it’s not us. We’re overwhelmed with the feedback… it’s just amazing what happened. It’s quite awesome,” Marié said.
They’ve already reconnected with their community to identify their next mobility buddy. Their hope? That this ripple of kindness continues — one wheelchair at a time.
“To everybody that donated — thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You enabled this change for the Mobility Buddy. It’s just phenomenal.”
Carel’s story reminds us that even the most difficult moments can be turned into purpose. Through sheer grit, heartfelt gratitude, and the power of community, he turned his own trial into someone else’s triumph — and he’s just getting started.
Please consider sharing this story — because every share, every donation, and every kind word helps move someone closer to freedom, independence, and hope.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Jul 23, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
Carlos Campos (65) from Douglasdale, Johannesburg is not your average grandfather. Known to his family as “Abuelo Cazador” — the hunter grandpa — he’s an old-school tech wizard, a proud Spanish soul, and a Fallout-fan gamer who’s raised a generation of curious minds under his quiet, determined wing. Complete with a stubborn streak that turns every setback into “just another puzzle to solve” is a deeply empathetic soul who tears up at good news stories and never forgets a birthday call.
A former IT pioneer, Carlos helped usher South Africa into the digital age in the 1980s, solving server problems by day and teaching programming by night and helped businesses take their first steps into the digital world. Today, long after retirement, his legacy continues — by applying his problem-solving mind wherever he can and in bedtime science talks, Lego-building quests, and virtual adventures with his grandchildren.
“Abuelo Cazador” and His Legacy of Learning
Carlos’s son, Brynmor — affectionately known as Bryn — followed in his father’s digital footsteps and now works in information security.
“Dad showed me that every line of code has a story,” Bryn says. “He taught me how to think, problem-solve, and be curious. Even now, with limited mobility, he’s the calm co-pilot on every new adventure with my kids.”
Brynmor, or “Bryn” as he’s known, is Carlos’s son, protégé, and unapologetic geek-in-chief.
“Dad is the reason I work in information security today,” says Bryn. “He showed me that every line of code hides a story, and that every problem has a solution if you care enough to look.”
To his grandchildren, Carlos is their favorite teammate. Whether they’re building Minecraft castles or chasing down monsters in Fallout 76, his steady voice through a headset is their compass.
“It’s a broken world where people still choose hope,” Carlos says of his favourite game. “Sounds a lot like real life, eh?”
The family of six — Brynmor, his wife, their two kids, and Carlos and his wife — live under one roof, sharing not only space but every emotional and financial burden. One of their favourite memories is still the day Carlos booted up Fallout 76, handed each grandkid a controller, and said, “Let’s hunt scorched beasts!” They didn’t get very far, but the giggles echoed through the house for hours.
“Dad has always been the calm engine room of our family. Growing up, I remember midnight ‘science shows’ in the backyard — he’d lug out a telescope, point to Saturn’s rings, and explain why curiosity is our super-power. Now, as a grandpa, he’s the gentle co-pilot on every adventure my kids dream up. Whether they’re building Lego space stations or troubleshooting a Minecraft server, ‘Abuelo’ (their affectionate Spanish nickname for him) is the first call they make.”
But behind the joyful memories and glowing screens lies a mounting crisis. After surviving a heart attack, spending eight months on a ventilator following COVID-19, and now facing permanent oxygen dependence, Carlos and his family are battling overwhelming medical costs — and doing it all from the heart of their home, where three generations live under one roof.
Health Setbacks and Financial Strain
Carlos’s health struggles began in 2017 with a heart attack and valve replacement. In 2019, he nearly lost his life to COVID-19 and spent eight months in ICU. The virus left him bedridden, with seizure-induced paralysis on his left side. With time, he relearned to walk using aids — and with characteristic stubbornness, kept showing up for his family.
In early 2025, doctors diagnosed Carlos with a rare oxygen-blood disorder, leaving him permanently dependent on a home oxygen machine.
The emotional and financial burden on the family — including Carlos’s wife, Bryn, Bryn’s wife, and their two kids — has been immense. Between medical bills, oxygen rentals, and transport, the family has cancelled holidays, postponed celebrations, and drained their savings.
But the Campos family hasn’t lost hope.
Finding Help and Hope Through Community
On 29 May 2025, Bryn launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help ease the pressure. The goal: R300,000 for Carlos’s ongoing needs — from a sleep apnea machine and updated gaming setup, to home safety equipment and a lightweight oxygen concentrator.
To date, the campaign has raised R95,700 from 84 donors, covering major expenses like a mobility scooter and modern gaming gear — allowing Carlos to finally go outdoors and rejoin family outings.
“Helping him through this fundraiser isn’t charity for me, it’s gratitude,” says Bryn. “It’s my chance to steady the shoulders that carried me.”
Carlos recently enjoyed his first family outing in years — a memory made possible through community support and the purchase of a mobility scooter of which has made a huge impact in the lives of the Campos family.
Should the campaign surpass its goal, the family plans to install grab rails and ramps, replace Carlos’s mattress with one that supports his posture, and build a small fund to manage future health emergencies.
“Every donation feels like a hand on our shoulder saying, ‘You’re not alone,’” Bryn shares.
Carlos puts it even more beautifully:
“I may need a machine to breathe, but every one of you is the air in that machine.”
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by Tessa Van Rensberg | Jul 17, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
What is Mandela Day and How Can You Get Involved?
Mandela Day, held on July 18th each year, encourages individuals to spend 67 minutes doing something positive in their communities. This initiative honours Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service, calling on all of us to do our part—whether it’s planting trees, donating blood, feeding the hungry, or supporting a meaningful cause.
In the spirit of Mandela Day 2025, we’d like to share a few heartfelt initiatives hosted on the BackaBuddy crowdfunding platform. Supporting these campaigns is a great way to do your bit this Mandela Day.
From placing senior dachshunds with elderly companions to running 67 kilometres for mental health awareness or feeding hungry children over the weekend, each initiative contributes to real change.
Save a Frosty Face for Mandela Day 2025
Cape Dachshund Rescue (CDR) is raising R40,000 this Mandela Day to cover one month of veterinary bills for 92 senior dachshunds in its care. Operating across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Southern Cape, the organisation runs a Frosty Face Foster programme, which matches elderly dachshunds with people between the ages of 60 and 80. Adoption fees are waived, and vet costs are fully covered, allowing for lifelong companionship without financial burden.
Each donation—especially in multiples of R67—helps ensure these senior pets continue to receive the care and love they deserve.
The Chosen Runs: We See You Challenge
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the team at Trulife is calling on the public to walk, run, or cycle 67 kilometres in July as part of the “We See You” Mandela Day Challenge. Their goal is to raise R6,700 per team to fund workshops and programmes that support learners navigating trauma, often without the tools or recognition they need.
So far, over R1,900 has been raised. Additional support will help expand Trulife’s reach, allowing them to provide critical life skills and mental health education across South Africa.
Hope & Hunger: Feed the Children of Promiseland
In the informal settlement of Promiseland in Palmridge, Gauteng, 47-year-old cleaner Nonkululeko “Nonny” Mda spends her weekends feeding up to 100 hungry children through her grassroots initiative, Ikhaya Lethu (Our Home). She started this mission in 2018 after witnessing the hardship children face when school meals aren’t available on weekends.
“Weekends are the hardest for children who rely on school meals. I can’t sit back and do nothing,” says Nonny. “I use my own income and rely on donations, even if it means I go without.”
Her campaign has already raised over R25,000 of its R60,000 goal, but continued support is essential to keep these children nourished every weekend.
Mandela Day: Little Brains Deserve Big Futures
In Bellville in the Western Cape, a team of MBA students from Stellenbosch University has launched a campaign in partnership with Goldilocks and the Bear, a nonprofit that provides free mental health screenings and early intervention for children in underserved areas.
“R670 covers the full journey for one child—screening, counselling, and referrals,” the students explain. “Mental health support should never be a luxury.”
Their goal is to raise R67,000 this Mandela Day so that more children can access the mental health care they need to thrive.
Start Your Own Mandela Day Campaign
Have a cause close to your heart? You can start your own Mandela Day campaign on BackaBuddy and turn your passion into impact. Whether it’s a local clean-up, school supply drive, or a bigger community project, your 67 minutes can ripple far beyond the day itself.
Start here: Sign up to make a difference | BackaBuddy
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Jul 15, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
In the heart of Kensington, Cape Town, a single mother’s determination and an unshakable dream are the forces behind a campaign that BackaBuddy holds close. Nicole Nicci Arrison, a Systems analyst, BackaBuddy team member, side-hustling snack box queen, social media boff and hands-on mom (Yes, we also started sweating), has set her heart on giving her daughter a sixteenth birthday gift rooted in love, culture, and family: a trip to Sicily.
Nicci doesn’t just juggle life — she flips it, spins it, and somehow makes it look effortless. She’s the kind of mom who you’d think has superpowers with the amount she juggles. And when she sets her heart on something — like tracing her family’s Sicilian roots with her daughter, Qiran — nothing is going to stand in her way.
The two share an incredibly close bond, rooted in deep trust and mutual respect.
“There’s a mutual respect between us, and we’ve created a space where she can speak openly and trust that she’ll be heard without judgment. We’ve always been a team,” says Nicci.
“Some of our most treasured moments are our daily car rides — that’s our 20-minute pocket of uninterrupted connection, full of deep chats or bursts of laughter.”
Qiran, now approaching sixteen, has always shown remarkable emotional maturity. Nicci recalls a moment she’ll never forget: after her father passed away, young Qiran wrapped her arms around her mom, held her quietly, and then softly said,
“It’s going to be okay.”
“She has this quiet emotional intelligence that’s always been there. She makes me proud daily, in ways big and small,” Nicci says.
Another memory that speaks volumes:
Even though Qiran’s team had just lost a sports match, she ran straight to the teacher of the winning team and gave her a hug to congratulate her.
“That’s just who she is — gracious, thoughtful, and humble. “Says Nicci
A Journey of Heritage and Heart
Family is everything to Nicci — and those roots run deep. At the centre is her grandmother, Ma Joyce, Qiran’s great-grandmother and the family matriarch, known for her legendary lasagna and unforgettable stories.
She’s the one who passed down not just a legendary lasagna recipe, but a legacy of culture, connection, and Sicilian heritage.
“My grandmother, Ma Joyce, is Qiran’s great-grandmother and the heart of our family. Her maiden name is Gamba, and she’s passed down both our lasagna recipe and two very different origin stories.
The more believable version is that the Gambas came to South Africa as missionaries — a legacy that lives on in our family today, with one of my uncles serving as an Anglican priest. But when she’s feeling playfully annoyed with us, Ma Joyce will claim that ‘Gamba’ is short for Gambino — and we can’t help but laugh. We don’t quite believe that one, but the stories, like the recipes, are part of our family’s beautiful and layered history.” – Nicci shares
For Nicci, the kitchen has always been a sacred space of connection for her and her family.
“Growing up, the kitchen was the heart of our family — it’s where everyone connected. If you were in the kitchen, you were either helping prep or waiting to lick the spoon, LOL.”
Like the kitchen, food has always been a way for the family to connect and be reminded of their Sicilian roots.
“For us, food — especially Ma Joyce’s lasagna — has always been more than just a meal. It’s part of every birthday, every family gathering, every moment that matters. If you asked me what it tastes like, I’d say it tastes like first love — but the kind that wraps you in warmth and never really leaves you.”
The family believes their roots trace back to Palermo, and now Nicci wants to take her daughter on a journey that will once again bring their heritage to life.
For Nicci, this trip is more than a holiday. It’s a tribute, a legacy, and a love letter — from mother to daughter, to the place where it all began.
“This trip is meaningful because it’s more than a birthday celebration — it’s a moment for her to connect with where our family comes from. It’s about giving her the gift of experience, culture, and family roots — something she’ll remember forever.”
The mother-daughter duo picture wandering through the bustling Ballarò Market, spinning under the ancient arches of the Cattedrale di Palermo, and tossing coins into the Fontana Pretoria. And through each experience, feeling a long-lost tug from the cobbled streets and vibrant Sicilian culture of their roots — maybe even spotting a cousin with those signature mischievous eyebrows.
This trip has been a long-time dream for Qiran and Nicci, and now — thanks to a crowdfunding platform Nicci contributes to daily(and is the go-to for tech queries that could stump a rocket scientist) — it’s finally starting to feel like a possibility.
A Campaign Close to Home
In May 2025, Nicci launched her campaign: Qiran’s Super Sweet Sicilian Sixteenth, hoping to raise R65,000 to cover flights, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, and — of course — some pasta and gelato along the way.
So far, 17 donors have contributed over R2,000. It may seem like a modest start, but for Nicci, each donation is a message of support and belief.
“We’ve been so moved by the support,” she says. “A friend even offered her massage services for our fundraiser — no questions asked. It’s things like that that remind me just how kind people can be.”
Even Qiran, who usually avoids the spotlight, had something heartfelt to share:
“I feel happy and surprised — honestly, I feel lucky. Thank you to everyone who’s helping, even if you don’t know me. I really hope this trip happens. I saw a message saying my mommy is working really hard to make it possible. I hope it works out — for both of us.”
To support Nicci and Qiran’s journey, visit their campaign here:
👉 https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/qirans-super-sweet-sicilian-sixteenth
