Torsten Koehler (57), a testicular cancer survivor and author from Cape Town, founded non-profit organisation, Love Your Nuts in 2014, to create awareness around the ‘shy killer’, that affects 1 in 250 men.
Pictured above: Torsten Koehler, founder of Love Your Nuts.
Torsten was confronted with cancer in 1995, with no internet access, no support groups on social media and limited information, which made an already difficult journey even more isolating.
Torsten thankfully survived his cancer diagnosis due to early detection, and made it his mission to teach his sex education students in Namibia about cancer, as testicular cancer commonly affects men between the ages of 15-45.
“Men in general don’t talk about their feelings or their health, and for young men this is even more true. Young men often feel that they need to stand their ground, show they are strong and buy into the ‘men don’t cry’ fallacy. What I tried to do with my classes is to break the stigma around this taboo topic and shatter the shyness around testicular cancer”
Pictured above: Love Your Nuts talk at PechaKucha in Cape Town.
“My book ‘Love Your Nuts – Testicular Cancer touched my Life’ was released in 2004. Years later a past student who was 16 contacted me and told me that he had testicular cancer and that I saved his life. This inspired me to launch my non-profit a decade later” – says Torsten
For the past 8 years, Love Your Nuts has toured schools with their Cancer Smart School Programme and has reached over 34 700 individuals face-to-face at various events with their message.
Pictured above:Love Your Nuts challenges men to run in swimwear to raise awareness. This group ran the Cape Town Marathon.
“Knowledge and early detection are the best weapons against cancer. If we can educate our children early in their lives, the survival rate will be much higher. Changing the behaviour of young people by teaching them to look after their health will lead to a healthier next generation who will uplift their communities.” – says Torsten
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
To transform their school program, which teaches children about various forms of cancer, into an educational gaming app, Love Your Nuts has partnered with The Centre for Community Technologies at Nelson Mandela University to develop an app prototype.
In need of R400 000 to begin phase one of the project, Love Your Nuts has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, in hopes to reach remote areas in South Africa and around the globe, where information and medical resources lack the most.
The end goal, Torsten says, is to save as many young lives as possible.
Pictured above: Love Your Nuts educating and raising awareness in rural South Africa.
“Funds raised will be used to develop a functional prototype that can help us secure support from larger investors, get legal advice to protect the rights of the children who will be using our app, consult with medical experts to revise the cancer information and to keep it up to date and cover the cost of testing and further development” – says Torsten
With initial support, 14 donors have already contributed R2400 towards the crowdfunding campaign, which is expected to have a tremendous impact.
Torsten speaks about the importance of early detection:
“With today’s technology, we can educate individuals about the significance of early detection of cancer:
It’s less pain and trauma for the patient.
It’s less of a financial burden for the patient (the majority of South Africans don’t have medical aid),
Bed occupancy in hospitals is shorter, which cuts costs for the government.
Treatment is shorter and a cost-saver for medical aid and government
If cancer is detected very early, in some cases, no treatment (chemo, etc.) is needed”
The goal of Love Your Nuts is to raise awareness of (testicular) cancer by educating communities about the rarely spoken about cancer that often remains undetected in young adults due to our diverse society in South Africa, where cultural taboos, stigmas and a lack of knowledge about the subject is widespread.
We support men diagnosed with testicular cancer emotionally. It is often easier to share thoughts and fears with a survivor than a family member or friend. Building a network of survivors nationwide/worldwide that support patients is an ongoing process. If you are a survivor and like to help, please get in touch.
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R360 Million.
Andrew Jansen van Vuuren (39) an avid biker and boilermaker from Kempton Park, Johannnesburg was involved in a traumatic road accident in January 2022, which resulted in the amputation of his right leg from the knee down.
Pictured above: Andrew with his daughter Mekaila and his wife’s grandson, Baylin.
Despite undergoing 2 operations and facing many obstacles along the way, Andrew, a father of two, returned to work a month after his accident as he is the main breadwinner for his family. His fiance, Maria sadly lost her job, like so many South Africans during the Covid-19 pandemic.
To make ends meet Andrew and Maria run a weekend fast food business which operates out of their tuckshop at the motocross track. Always looking out for others, even in difficult times, the couple delivers leftover meals to those in need and has even given a homeless man a job and a place to sleep.
Giving Andrew a leg up
Unable to afford the cost of a prosthetic leg, Andrew used his mechanical skills to construct his own substitute leg that has allowed him to continue working, drive his car, quad bike and even ride his bicycle.
While his impressive innovation has made life a little easier, Andrew suffers severe pain on his stump and experiences strain on his joints.
Inspired by Andrew’s amazingly positive attitude to life, his remarkable will to succeed, his endless kindness to others and his selfless acts, a group of fellow bikers have decided to take on a fun charity ride to Lesotho this November to the Roof of Africa hard enduro race to give Andrew a leg up.
Pictured above: From the left Kyle, Grant, Sharky, Cwade, Andrew, Gavin, Louis, Dylan at the MX track in Kempton Park where Andrew runs his fast food business.
Travelling from Johannesburg to Lesotho, to the Roof of Africa on delivery bikes, the friends hope to raise R200 000 oncrowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy, to purchase a well-deserved prosthetic leg for Andrew.
The gentlemen begin their 1500km journey on 8 November 2022 and will arrive at their destination on 13 November 2022.
Since the launch of the campaign, almost R40 000 has been raised through kind contributions from 19 donors.
““Andrew has never let his situation get him down and always makes the best of every situation. For that reason we are taking the opportunity to turn our adventure into something meaningful and make Andrew’s life a little easier.” – says Gavin Naude, the main driver of the campaign.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R360 Million.
The Great Optimist Race in conjunction with Boatica is back!
Following a two-year break as a result of the global pandemic, the Little Optimist Trust is delighted to announce that the event will once again take place at Cape Town’s annual Boat Show, Boatica, on Saturday the 29th of October.
Pictured above: Greg Bertish
This year will see 15 hand-picked elite little optimist dinghies race for glory.
They will be sailed by celebrities, captains of industry and medical survivors Cape Talk’s Pippa Hudson and Adventurer Riaan Manser will be leading the celebrities, with two time winner and shark encounter survivor Caleb Swanepoel back in his Two Oceans Marine Boat.
Other contenders include double lung transplant survivor Tanya Bothma , stroke survivor Hilton Swanson and CEO Gareth Leck. Others who will be returning to the start line include big wave surfer Matt Bromley.
Little Optimist Trust Founder Greg Bertish will again be a favourite and says, “This year is going to be fast and furious and all in the name of raising funds for the Little Optimist trust and other charities“.
Picture: Grant Scholtz
Not only will the race serve as one of the highlights on Boatica’s calendar, but funds raised will be poured back into the ongoing sailing therapy offered by the Little Optimist Trust’s sailing academy at Battery Park.
The academy teaches sailing skills to disadvantaged, sick and marginalised children, giving them much-needed confidence and joy.
Members of the public are invited to bring family and friends, young and old, to the Academy’s sailing clinic at Boatica. They will be offering a sailing experience and lessons on 28, 29 and 30 October, in conjunction with South African Sailing.
To sponsor or back a boat for the race for charity donate here:
Combined the sailing champions have raised R65 000 towards their collective fundraising target of R380 000 on BackaBuddy with the support of 59 donors.
Picture: The Little Optimist
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R360 Million.
Souper Troopers, a Cape Town-based homeless advocacy and support non-profit organisation, was able to create 25 jobs this year for homeless individuals, many of whom have substance abuse issues.
This was made possible with much-needed funding from the City of Cape Town through Khulisa Social Services, which has been put on hold due to unforeseen internal circumstances at the City.
“Our ‘Souper Squad’ has been hard at work, over the past 10 months, beautifying public spaces in under-resourced communities byplanting, painting, growing, clearing, decorating,” says Kerry Hoffman, Executive Director of Souper Troopers. “While working individually and as a group, the workers have also focused on personal development, recovery from addiction, life skills and creative pursuits, with the help of Souper Troopers’ dynamic fieldwork team.”
Image: Souper Troopers
To keep the program, which has been a roaring success, alive Souper Troopers has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to fill their funding gap until they receive their renewal funding later this year.
“Without support, I fear all the progress our workers have made will be undone, their steps to find accommodation will be derailed, they will struggle to stay off of their substances they were dependent upon and reconciliation with their families will be halted,” says Hoffman.
Image: Souper Troopers
The program costs about R100 000pm to run smoothly over the anticipated two-month gap in funding. Thus far almost R50 000 has been raised (through kind contributions on BackaBuddy), which will be used to cover the psychosocial developmental services needed to help the workers continue on their paths towards independence and their wages.
The program has impacted so many lives:
25 of the workers have opened bank accounts and have ID documents
25 of the workers are able to send money home to their families every month.
25 of the workers have achieved the goals they have set for themself.
22 of the workers are now clean and are no longer using the substances they were addicted to.
20 of the workers no longer live on the streets of Cape Town.
8 of the workers have managed to save for their future.
Image: Souper Troopers
In their own words:
“Before joining the Souper Squad, I lived on the streets, and my life was about crime and drugs. I spent my life in and out of jail. I was tired of that life. Working for Souper Troopers has changed my life: I don’t do drugs anymore, I don’t live on the streets, and I think positive thoughts. I am scared that I will fall, go to jail, do the crime again, and that’s the life I don’t want to go back to again.” Jonathan
“Souper Troopers helped me when I was retrenched. I was in a bad state, stressed out. Being part of the Souper Squad has helped me become more open; it has been a restoration for me because I have managed to feel alive again, be positive, and look forward to bigger and better things. My biggest fear is returning to the streets again and not having someplace to call home.”Christopher
“At Souper Troopers, these people are not like people who only come to work; they are there for everything for help, in every department. The way they use their words, the word ‘family’. This is beautiful. For me, I can say I am a success. Not from my old life. I’m talking about the period from when I started here until now. That period is the success.” Kaya
*All donors are eligible for a Section 18a tax certificate issued by the Souper Troopers
Create a crowdfunding campaign
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R360 Million.
Globally, a staggering 800,000 suicides occur every year. In South Africa, a person commits suicide every 40 minutes.
As part of Mental Health Awareness Month which takes place every October, Franck, has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to raise enough funds to make professional mental health services available to 10,000 people in South Africa who do not have access to treatment.
“70% of the global population have access to a mobile phone, only 47% have access to running water. Utilizing mobile phones and digital innovation is the surest way to address the Mental Health crisis and intervene effectively for change.” – Eidde Francke, CEO – GetFranck
Through digital innovation, Franck is able to offer instant and always-on emergency assistance to people in Mental Health Crisis, offer self-help tools to guide them through Mental Health challenges, and connect them with a countrywide network of Mental Health Practitioners for both online and in-person consultation.
Franck also offers a next-generation Artificial Intelligence Mental Health Chatbot that can find and guide individuals in natural text exchanges on their Mental Health help journey, regardless of the mental or emotional space they are in.
How you can help
By donating R299 to the “Hey, I’m here” campaign on BackaBuddy, you can give a single person access to mental health assistance and companionship for an entire year.
Franck has partnered with Lovestruck Philanthropy NPC to distribute the Franck Apps with a formal sign-up or nomination process to individuals, organizations and communities facing Mental Health difficulties. The Franck App and its Mental Health infrastructure and assistance is available and active instantly.
“Mental health, ÍS health. If it is not you, it is someone you know. You or they may not know what to do – Franck knows. Let Franck help those you can’t help.” – Eidde Francke, CEO – GetFranck
Since the launch of the BackaBuddycampaign, more than R16 000 has been raised thus far with kind contributions from 11 donors, which means 53 individuals can already access the platform.
South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up fundraising campaigns for medical fees, tuition and various causes in South Africa. The platform has thus far risen over R350 Million.
