On 12 February 2022, Nadia Lewis (43), from Randburg, Johannesburg, took on the aQuellé Midmar Mile, swimming 1.6km to honour the memory of her son, Hanno, who passed away 8 years ago due to a rare form of cancer.
Hanno’s cancer journey
In June 2013, when Hanno was just 2-and-a-half years old, the happy and healthy boy, who was usually an endless ball of energy, struggled to make it up the driveway when playing with his dad, Tiaan (46), and developed a cough out of the blue that just wouldn’t go away.
Worried about their little boy’s health, Nadia and her husband booked the first available appointment at the paediatrician, who discovered that a mass was impacting Hanno’s right lung and obstructing his air flow.
Whilst in surgery to remove the mass, the Lewis family learned the devastating news that their almost 3-year-old son had a very rare and aggressive soft tissue tumor called Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
Hanno’s first round of chemotherapy
Adding to their heartbreak, Nadia, who was 8-weeks pregnant at the time had found out days before that she had suffered a miscarriage.
Despite encountering serious complications during treatment, Hanno braved chemotherapy for 8 long months, and was due to start radiation, when his cancer metastasized to his brain.
Hanno braved chemotherapy for 8 long months
“Hearing that our Hanno had terminal cancer shattered our hearts into a million pieces. We continued with his chemotherapy and radiation for a short while longer, until we decided to stop his treatments altogether, and focus on enjoying every moment we had left with our little man. It was the hardest decision we’ve ever had to make” – says Nadia
Surrounded by his parents, Hanno passed away on 19 July 2014, just three days before his 4th birthday; his little brother, Hugo was only 5 weeks old.
Hanno holding his baby brother Hugo. 5 weeks later Hanno died.
Finding purpose
In the year that Hanno passed away, Nadia began volunteering for Rainbows and Smiles, a non-profit organisation based in South Africa, which provides emotional, social and financial support to families and caregivers in need when a child of that family is diagnosed with a life threatening illness.
It is here where Nadia found her tribe, her ‘new normal’ and her purpose: ‘making a difference in the lives of these little humans fighting an unfair fight’
“When Bonni Suckling, the founder of Rainbows and Smiles, took me under her wing, I felt comfort in knowing I wasn’t alone. She understood the weight of the loss I had experienced, because her son Jed passed away from cancer, too. Her strength and the way she fights for the children we meet still moves me today” says Nadia
Keeping Hanno’s memory alive
The Rainbows and Smiles team and their extraordinary volunteers participate in various fundraising events to support the organization, which receives no government funding.
To keep Hanno’s memory alive, Team Rainbows, dedicates the Midmar Mile swim in particular to Hanno every year, as he had just learned to swim, 3 months before his untimely death.
Hanno learning to swim
What made this year even more special is that ‘non-sporty’ Nadia will be an active participant in this year’s event, and not only cheer from the sidelines.
Admittedly a bit nervous for the swim, Nadia, stepped out of her comfort zone to raise much-needed funds for Rainbows and Smiles through crowdfunding on BackaBuddy.
Since the launch of the campaign, over R32 000 has been raised with support from donors both locally and internationally, towards her fundraising target of R12 000, which will support the organisation and the amazing work they do.
“Hanno was so young and resilient. Even through treatment he wouldn’t stop playing, running, and jumping. He was, and still is, such an inspiration to me. I can hear him in the back of my mind cheering us on. I want to make him, and his little brother Hugo proud” says Nadia
‘No one gets left behind’
Staying true to the Hawaiian word ‘Ohana’, which means ‘family’, and the Lilo & Stitch, manta ‘no one gets left behind’, Nadia was joined by her Rainbows and Smiles collegues Bonni Suclkling, Zelda Wessels, Denise Towell and her close friend, Catherine Drysdale, as she braved her fear of ‘dark and murky waters’ for the first time.
The ladies, who have each played a role in Hanno’s life, and have provided tremendous emotional support to Nadia through her healing journey, each wore a letter on their swimsuits, which together, will spell out ‘Hanno’.
Nadia Lewis and Bonni Suckling at a Rainbows and Smiles event
“It is so special to have ‘Team Rainbows’ – my best friends – join me on this swim across a full dam. I know they have my back and I have so much love for them” – says Nadia
Support is always needed
Nadia hopes the public will join her, her team members, and the 14 champions swimming to raise funds for Rainbows and Smiles swimmers at the Midmar Mile this year, as the organisation is always in need of public support.
“As an organization, we are thankful for every donation, big and small, that we receive. We meet so many people on a daily basis who are going through the most difficult time in their lives fighting cancer. If we can be there to lend a smile, a helping hand or a word of encouragement, we know it means the world to them”
“A few months ago a social worker put us in touch with a mother who was staying in the hospital ward with her very sick little girl. It was the middle of winter and she had no sandals on her feet, no toiletries, just the clothes on her back. As a small gesture, we bought her a few pairs of warm clothes and fluffy slippers, and she fell to the ground, thanking me. As I helped her to her feet, I was reminded of how important it is for us moms to look after each other. That moment will stay with me forever.” – says Nadia
The Midmar 2022 was indeed a very special swim for our team, and we are super grateful to everyone who participated, donated, and cheered from all over the world. Your good vibes, love and support carried me through that dam. There was no way on earth that I would have given up! Not for all the tea in China! Phew, I made it! Word on the street is that I am now classified as an elite athlete. Regardless of my Midmar time
Special thanks to the BackaBuddy team for their support. We were so privileged to receive all the coverage we did through various media platforms, putting our little charity with the big heart on the map. Thank you to EVERYONE who donated and sent messages of well wishes to me and the Team. Thank you so much to each and every swimmer who travelled from a far to honour our children and their loved ones. Lastly to my besties (I am blessed with a few) , family, friends and acquaintances, your love engulfed me. I am honestly the luckiest chick alive – THANK YOU, says Nadia.
Almost 1000 children are diagnosed with cancer in SA every year
The need for cancer awareness is more important now than ever, says Nadia.
“Experts say that around ⅔ of cancers remain unreported and untreated, because of the socio-economic challenges we face as a country, and the lack of awareness around early cancer detection, particularly in children. This means that many individuals don’t get the help they desperately need in time” – says Nadia
Meet ‘Team Rainbows’
Thus far, 14 champions have come on board to pledge their support for Rainbows and Smiles at the aQuellé Midmar Mile. Collectively, they have raised over R56 000 on BackaBuddy:
Raise funds for Rainbows and Smiles
Members of the public can participate in sporting events, pledge their birthdays or simply sign-up to raise funds for Rainbows and Smiles year-round, by setting up a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy here.
How Rainbows and Smiles uses donations:
Distribution of grocery vouchers.
Providing basic clothing needs.
Craft days at the hospitals.
Assistance with transport for patients and parents to and from hospital by providing funds.
Assistance with medical expenses
Psychosocial holistic care.
Bead Bravery project and comfort room
Basic medical equipment, like ports, port needles and PPE.
Assistance basic sanitary ware like nappies, wipes and sanitary pads
Toys and activity sets delivered on a regular basis.
Paediatric oncology ward upliftment.
Sponsorships of workshops where top Dr’s collaborate in the field of Paediatric Oncology.
Awareness talks at schools and companies.
Contributing to funerals arranged for the precious children who have passed away.
Lastly, fuel to reach the hospitals and patients they support.
Connect with Rainbows and Smiles
Rainbows and Smiles is a community based, charitable foundation dedicated to providing emotional, social and financial support to children diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening illness, and their families and caregivers.
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 raised over R290 Million.
Despite being diagnosed ‘profoundly deaf’ at birth and ‘clinically blind’ at the age of 48, Jennifer Pretorius (59) who lives in Fish Hoek, Cape Town, has always been determined to lead a full life.
At the age of 6, unable to attend mainstream school due to developmental issues, Jenny was sent to the Dominican Grimley School for the deaf in Cape Town, where she says the nuns cried when she couldn’t say her name.
Defying all odds, Jenny learned to speak without deaf sign language, and caught up to her classmates academically in just two years, with the help of speech therapy.
Jenny at 2-and-a-half years old – St Vincent School for the Deaf.
Although Jenny was thriving at school, another curveball came her way, when at the age of 10-years-old, her tennis teacher noticed she was having difficulty with her hand-eye coordination.
She was later taken to an optometrist, who noticed black spots in her retinas, but wasn’t able to give her a diagnosis.
Despite her worsening eyesight, Jenny never gave up on her love for sports as she got older. She played tennis, cricket, netball, badminton, hockey and could even ride her bicycle in those days.
“Nobody realised how bad my eye condition was. I just took on everything I wanted to do like all the other children did, and my parents encouraged me to take on new challenges.” says Jenny
A devasting diagnosis
At the age of 18, shortly after completing matric with exemption, Jenny was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa an incurable genetic retinal disease, which causes tunnel vision and night blindness. Combined with her lack of hearing Jenny is said to suffer from Usher Syndrome.
In her young adult life, Jenny joined the Navy as an administration civilian, ran for Defence and Fish Hoek Athletic Club, participated in half marathons, and rode horses at the Glencairn Equestrian Centre.
Jenny at 25-years-old – Foschini Half Marathon in Green Point
Sadly, as Jenny’s eyesight deteriorated further, one by one she had to let go of her passions including photography, as she would often fall down, accidents became more frequent, or she would be knocked by cars while walking.
After nearly 33 years of service in the Navy, Jenny was medically boarded in 2013 when her peripheral vision got so bad that she was unable to perform her office duties.
Adjusting to a new world
After being told by doctors that she needed to prepare for a life of total blindness and deafness, new hope came in the form of a life-changing cochlear implant that Jenny had inserted in 2019.
The device partially restored Jenny’s hearing – a major feat, considering that for 57 years she lived life in total silence.
With the help of the implant, and Jenny’s faithful companion, her beloved guide dog, Kaine, by her side, Jenny gained a little more important independence and was able to better navigate her surroundings and overcome daily challenges.
Jenny with her guide dog, Kaine
The pair were inseparable for 8 years until he passed away of liver cancer in August 2021.
“I was very excited to have a guide dog as my other half and companion. He was my eyes and ears. We were inseparable. He saved me numerous times when walking on the streets, especially when crossing the roads. With the sudden loss of my right-hand man last year, I felt incapacitated, lost, lonely, and vulnerable. He had a massive impact on my life giving me independence and security.” – says Jenny
Learning Braille will help Jenny stay connected
Without Kaine by her side, Jenny is afraid to walk alone, as it is difficult for her to distinguish between sounds. For the time being, Jenny’s life partner, Gerald has taken over the role of Jenny’s eyes and ears.
Jenny and her partner, Gerald
To make Jenny’s life a little easier, as her eyesight is currently less than 2%, and it would take about 3 years to get a fully trained guide dog to take Kaine’s place, her friend Debbie Holmes has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help Jenny learn braille.
“I met Jenny about 6 years ago in our local dog park. Kaine and my labbie Rambo, were quick friends and would spend hours playing together. While Jenny and I struggled to communicate at first, I soon learned that she could lip-read, and then we just clicked and she crept into my heart” – says Debbie
Jenny and Debbie share a special bond
As Jenny is now no longer able to read print books and newspapers, a device called the Braille Mantis Q40, estimated to cost R56 000 (about $3,600) including shipping from overseas, is what Jenny desperately needs to stay in touch with her loved ones and the world around her.
Since the launch of the campaign almost R100 000($6555) has been raised towards Jenny’s fundraising target of R180 000 ($11 800) with kind contributions from 49 donors both locally and internationally.
Braille Mantis Q40
With funds raised thus far, Debbie has purchased Jenny a 6dot Braille label maker, Dolphin magnifier, a Braille and screen reader PC program and a few other gadgets, to make Jenny’s life easier while she waits for her Braille Mantis Q40.
Any additional funds will be used for speech therapy sessions that Jenny is currently unable to afford.
“Jenny does not let her daily struggles and challenges define her, she has a beautiful soul and a kind, caring nature. I have never met someone who is so resilient and so passionate about life. No matter what she is going through, she always has a smile on her face and is grateful for each day. I hope the public will support me in helping Jen” – says Debbie
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 R300 Million.
South Africa’s Good Things Guy, Brent Lindeque, from Johannesburg, has undergone a massive transformation in aid of Cancervive, shearing 40 centimetres of his trademark curly locks for a sleeker, shorter look.
“Along with the hair donation for Cancervive, and because it’s my birthday month, I want to extend the kindness movement,” says Brent Lindeque.
“I’ve done that by launching a BackaBuddycampaign for this organisation because I’ve personally lost friends and family to this tragic disease, as have so many others.”
Lindeque lost his aunt to cancer last year. This tragic event planted a seed in him to do some good to help make a difference for people facing the same battles. A little while later, a client asked him if he would ever cut his hair off for charity.
And so the idea was born to cut his hair off – that he had grown for three years – and raise much-needed funds in the process. Cancervive describes itself as dynamic cancer awareness and education project.
Pictured above: Looking Good, Brent!
According to its website: ‘We are a survivor-driven cancer awareness and education project that communicates to audiences with means beyond words. Through performing arts, music, poetry, dance and storytelling, we can reach people of all backgrounds, regardless of language.
Because of this, the Cancervive project has been hailed as one of the world’s most dynamic cancer awareness campaigns.
“Raising cancer awareness is a year-round drive, but I think it’s especially prudent to launch this campaign now in January, which is typically a tough month for so many,” says Brent.
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 R290 Million.
As we mourn the loss of beloved Hollywood icon, Betty White, who sadly died of a stroke on the 31 December 2021, three weeks shy of her 100th birthday, fans like Melanie Van Rensburg (39), from Johannesburg, South Africa, are choosing to pay tribute to the ‘golden girl’ by supporting animal welfare groups around the world.
Proud dog mom, Mel, who rescued her dogs Stella and Kahn from Ark animal Rehabilitation Center, which has since closed down due to the impact of the pandemic, says there is no better way to honour the long-lived star, who “filled lounges with love and laughter for decades, and put animal advocacy top of her priority list”
“From funding research on pain management that revolutionised the way elective surgeries are performed today, speaking out against animal abuse, encouraging fans to adopt mixed-breed dogs, destigmatizing ‘unfavourable’ dog breeds, to simply offering dog training tips, Betty always used her voice (and her wealth) to stand up for our furry friends” – says Melanie
Melanie and her pup, Kahn.
Starting on Betty’s birthday, the 17th of January 2021, Mel is encouraging dog lovers from all walks of life, to make small, meaningful donations of R100 ($6.5), to her crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, that will support Woodrock Animal Rescue in Gauteng.
The pro-life, rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing shelter “provides assistance to homeless, abused, neglected, stray, injured, ill, geriatric and unwanted animals that would otherwise have miserable lives and premature deaths; animals who have no voice of their own.” according to their website.
By Raising R10 000 ($650), Melanie hopes the animal rescue organisation, will be able to sterilise as many pups as possible, echoing Betty’s sentiment:
“I’m a big spay-and-neuter supporter. Don’t have babies if you’re not going to take care of those babies. We don’t need more. We just need to take care of the ones we have. Take responsibility and breathe kindness.” – Betty White
Donate to Melanie’s #BettyWhiteChallenge on BackaBuddy:
Betty’s love for “anything with a leg on each corner” started during the Depression when her family took care of more than 15 dogs. Continuing the family tradition, White is said to have owned 26 dogs in her lifetime.
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 raised over R290 Million.
Steve Lewis (62), a semi-retired professional Engineer from Pretoria, South Africa, has his heart set on building a home for his gardener of over 25 years, Abel Shabangu (53), who is a dear friend of the family.
Despite his diligent work ethic, Abel has only managed to build a simple tin shack with access to water, sewage, and electricity, for his wife and 3 children on the small property he owns in Soshanguve, due to limited financial resources.
The home Abel built for his family in Soshanguve, Gauteng.
A house to make a home
18 months ago, Abel asked Steve for his help, to design and help build a comfortable home for his family, and Steve gladly accepted.
“For as long as I can remember, Abel has had a dream to give his family a home they can be proud of and stay safe in. He is a hardworking, honest, upstanding family man that does everything he can to raise his family in the best way possible,” says Steve
Abel and his family.
Having secured R100 000 ($6500) of his own funds to make the family’s dream a reality, Steve enthusiastically started drawing up the plans.
To help cover the shortfall of R45,000 ($2800) needed to build a small, 3 bedroom brick house, Steve launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, which has already raised R33 000 ($2100), thanks to generous donations from donors both locally and abroad.
With experience in managing building projects, Steve will oversee the building project free of charge, and has already found a reliable builder who lives close to Abel.
Funds raised by the campaign will soley be used to cover the cost of the builder and his materials. Any additional funds will be used to furnish the home and improve on the simple finishings that are currently planned for the house.
Thank you to the 22 incredible donors who are supporting Steve in building Abel and his family’s home.
Thanks so much for your donation. We are making good progress towards our target. Your generosity has made all the difference. We are also investigating if Abel can get a government subsidy on the building of the house. With all this goodwill the dream will definitely come true.– says Steve
Update
Thank you to all those who have contributed to this project to build Abel a house. We managed to get sufficient funds to start the project this month. We built the foundations last week and we have started with the walls this week.
We have enough money for the basic house and the electrical services.
However, there will not be enough for plumbing and the ceiling. If you are interested in helping further. The basic plumbing will cost about R17 000 and the ceiling will cost about R6 000.
Any donations would be very welcome.
Support Abel’s campaign by donating on BackaBuddy:
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 raised over R290 Million.
