by Zane Groenewald | Apr 14, 2021 | Campaign, Featured
On the 8th of July 2021, Henry Cock (34), a business owner from Sandton, Johannesburg, will attempt to smash the Guinness World Record for most consecutive half marathons in a row, to uplift South Africans struggling with mental health, particularly during the lockdown.
Henry, who is admittedly not a professional athlete, is training to take on 133 consecutive half marathons over 133 days, covering a distance of 2800km from Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, to Vioolsdrift, Namibia, to break the current record for men, which stands at 75.
Shattering Mental Health Stigma
Having battled depression and anxiety in recent years, due to the dissolution of his long term relationship, the strain that the ongoing pandemic has had on his businesses, as well as the daily personal struggles we can all relate to, Henry wants to dismantle mental health stigma with his mammoth challenge and be a beacon of hope to those who suffer in silence.
Henry Cock
“I only became aware of my mental health issues in 2019. The more I started to delve into my personal experiences, the more I began to understand how important mental health is, and the more I learned that it is still a very stigmatised and taboo subject. It took me months of therapy to work up the courage and put myself on medicine, and admit to the people I cared about the most that I suffered from anxiety. It takes great courage to speak out and recognize that you suffer from a mental disorder. The more we can open the conversation surrounding mental health, the greater the understanding and empathy will be with those that suffer.” – says Henry.
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
With a crowdfunding campaign launched on BackaBuddy, Henry has also set himself an ambitious goal of raising over R6 million to support The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), an organisation on the forefront of patient advocacy, education, and de-stigmatisation of mental illness in South Africa.
According to SADAG, one person commits suicide every hour in South Africa.
Henry Cock and with friend and supporter, Jake Franklin.
Since the launch of his ‘Mentally Aweh’ campaign, Henry has thus raised over R250 000, with contributions from 77 donors both locally and internationally which will be used to help those without the means to prioritise their mental health and access treatment.
‘It’s time for togetherness, not individualism.’
With the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a ‘new wave of mental health concern’ says Henry, as people have struggled with isolation, fatigue, illness, and the death of loved ones on a larger scale than we are accustomed to.
“My hope is that as many South Africans as possible can have access to the help they need, and that is why I have set up my BackaBuddy campaign. I want people to know that it is okay to tell people you’re struggling with your mental health. It doesn’t mean your life is over, or that you’re different or weird – and it’s OK to take medication for it. These things all help, they’re not there to be stigmatized or laughed at or looked down upon as a weakness. The misconception that this problem has no solution is simply not true” – says Henry
Support Henry’s campaign on BackaBuddy by donating here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/mentally-aweh
Alternatively, donate Via Snapscan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/MentallyAweh
For more information about SADAG, visit:
https://www.sadag.org
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by Zane Groenewald | Apr 1, 2021 | Campaign, Impact
Between the 5th and 9th of April, Christine Roos (29) – a passionate swimmer and philanthropist from Benoni – will brave the cold Atlantic in a 7,4km swim from Robben Island to Big Bay to raise R50 000 for the SA Bone Marrow Registry.
The historic Robben Island crossing, dubbed the “Island Escape” is described as “gruelling” by elite open-water swimmers, but this has not deterred Christine, who is a novice swimmer.
To allow for safe weather conditions, a five-day window period has been allocated for the swim.
Christine says the challenge is nothing compared to suffering from a life-threatening blood disorder and not being able to afford the treatment.
“The swim is but three or so hours of my life compared to many hours, months or even years that patients suffer with blood-related cancers and often a transplant is their only hope of survival. As a registered stem cell donor, I’ve made it my mission to spread awareness of the life-saving work that the SABMR does and the difference every one of us can make by becoming a donor – be it via word of mouth or pushing myself to the limits.” – says Christine
Christine signed up as a bone marrow donor at a registration drive in Gauteng some two years ago and has been an advocate for bone marrow donation ever since. The same year she also participated in the 947 Cycle Challenge as part of a team of cyclists, where R150 000 was raised for the registry on BackaBuddy.
Christine says the swimming challenge has been months in the making.
“I have been training in dams and pools around Gauteng every opportunity I get. I have always played competitive sport, so enjoy challenging myself and pushing boundaries. You have to be both physically and mentally fit for this swim. Once your head is in the game, the battle is half won.” – says Christine
The money raised from Roos’ BackaBuddy Champion page will go towards the SABMR’s Patient Assistance Programme, that provides financial assistance to families who cannot afford the cost of finding a suitable donor.
Christine says she hopes that the public will support her cause on BackaBuddy.
“I know that times are tough, but I’m asking each and every one of you to give what you can. Even if it’s just a little bit, it all contributes to saving someone’s life.” – says Christine
Kamiel Singh, Head of Sustainability for the SABMR says the NGO has been trying to recoup lost funding.
“The majority of our physical fundraising events were cancelled last year due to lockdown restrictions, so we’re slowly, but surely trying to get back on our feet. We are extremely grateful to Christine for championing this cause and making life-saving treatments available to more patients. She’s a true hero!” – says Kamiel Singh
Kamiel Singh
To donate to Christine’s cause, visit her BackaBuddy campaign:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/christine-swimsforsabmr
If you are not able to donate financially, please consider registering as a bone marrow donor with The SABMR here:
https://sabmr.co.za/become-a-donor/
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 R200 Million.
About Zane Groenewald
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cape town, Cape Town fire, crowdfunding, gift of the givers, south africa
Guinness World Record attempt for most consecutive half marathons to shatter mental health stigma
Hout Bay resident (19) takes on 27km ‘Freedom Paddle’ to provide community with 27 000 meals.
by Zane Groenewald | Mar 25, 2021 | Campaign, Impact
While the iconic great white shark is without a doubt the most recognisable in False Bay in the Western Cape, it might surprise you that more than 20 different shark species have been seen in the region.
Bringing awareness to the 13 lesser-known species that are commonly found on these shores, a group of enthusiastic swimmers will dive into the award-winning Fish Hoek exclusion net on the 27th of March 2021, and swim 13km inside the exclusion zone, to raise awareness and funds for Shark Spotters.
Show your support for the swimmers
Leigh De Necker (28), an from the Two Oceans Aquarium and the driving force behind the swim, has been a long-time supporter of Shark Spotters, having been a past student at the organisation, completing her thesis on the trophic dynamics of the broad nose sevengill shark.
With her crowdfunding campaign launched on BackaBuddy, Leigh has raised over R11 000 towards her fundraising target of R13 000 in anticipation of the swim that will benefit Shark Spotters and their safety, education, and conservation activities.
Donate
Leigh De Necker
Braving the water with Leigh, but swimming in a relay, 13 members of the Shark Net Crew, who raise the Fish Hoek shark exclusion barrier in the sea every day during the spring and summer months, have also launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise funds for the wages and equipment of 40 of their fellow team members.
They have thus far raised over R12 000 towards their fundraising target of R26 000 on the fundraising platform.
Donate
The Shark Spotters Net Crew has been training hard for their upcoming swim
“Swimming inside the award-winning Fish Hoek shark exclusion net highlights our ability, to live alongside sharks, coexisting in the shared ocean space, rather than resorting to lethal methods to prevent human-shark interactions.” Says Sarah Waries
Connect with Shark Spotters
Shark Spotters is a pioneering shark safety and research organisation that has attracted international attention because of the novel way it pro-actively reduces interactions and conflict between recreational water users and white sharks. Started in 2004 in response to a spate of shark bite incidents and increased shark sightings, Shark Spotters is now the primary shark safety strategy used in Cape Town.
Image credit: Gerald Schombs
Shark Spotters improves beach safety by applying innovative and responsible shark safety solutions that reduce the spatial overlap between people and sharks, thereby reducing the risk of a shark bite. We also provide emergency response in the event of a shark incident, as well as to conduct cutting-edge applied research on shark behaviour and ecology, raise awareness about shark safety and conservation issues, and provide employment opportunities and skills development for shark spotters.
For more information, visit www.sharkspotters.org.za
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 R200 Million.
About Zane Groenewald
View all posts by Zane Groenewald →
by Zane Groenewald | Mar 9, 2021 | Campaign, Impact
With an ever-increasing litter problem in Fourways, the Jukskei River, and its surrounds, The SW Living Creatures Trust, led by Sean Williams (50) from Lonehill, Johannesburg, has embarked on a clean-up project that is gaining momentum.
Launched in November 2020, the Live Life Always project, which has created job opportunities for 8 otherwise unemployed Diepsloot residents, has collected over 62 280 bags of litter, which amounts to over 410 tonnes of waste.
The program is not only supporting families who have been tremendously affected by the lockdown, but is highlighting the devastating impact waste plastic and litter has on our planet.
“My passion has always been about saving our beautiful planet and if we don’t as a human race make a change, then my daughter being 5 years old, will be the last generation on this planet. Together we have to make the change and not leave it for someone else to take on this responsibility. We will clean up this planet, one bag at a time” – says Sean
Sean Williams
Crowdfunding on Backabuddy
As the operation relies on donations to operate and sustain itself, the enthusiastic planet-warriors have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to appeal for the public for support.
Since the launch of the campaign to cover the program’s operational costs and pay the salaries of the volunteers, over R155 000.00 has been raised from kind residents and donors across the globe. Live Real Estate (Lonehill), fourways (Leroy Merlin), Plastics SA and Fourways Crossing have also come on board to support the cause.
The project, which caters to the community of Fourways & Diepsloot in Gauteng and Rosendal in the Eastern Free State, and has recently expanded into Sunninghill, Sandton, Douglasdale, Rivonia, and Strydom Park, requires an estimate of R25 000 a week to run effectively.
The campaign hopes to raise a total of R250 000 to keep the project running smoothly for the next 10 weeks.
‘In efforts to create more funds, I have built this Plastic muncher, Ecobrick maker for schools to stuff their single use plastics into a empty 2 litre plastic bottle. I sell them for R2600 per unit. The colours can change depending on the different school houses in the schools, so it can be a competition between children at schools. We have finished another Ecobrick bench, using 1000 ecobricks at the Beverley Park in Lonehill and Lita at Play was the mural artist’, says Sean.
Solomon Majwe.
How your donation can make a difference:
– Your R100 donation will pay for transport for 3 employees for a day.
– Your R250 donation will cover 1 day’s wage, lunch and transport for 1 employee.
– Your R1,000 donation will cover 4 employee’s costs per day.
– Your R3,750 donation will cover the team’s wages, food & transport for 1 full day
– Your R5,000 donation will cover the admin costs of the operation for 1 week.
– Your R18,750 donation will keep a whole team of 15 people employed for 1 week.
– Your R25,000 donation will sustain the entire operation for 1 week.
Support this cause on BackaBuddy by donating here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/swtrust-fundraiser
Alternatively donate via snapscan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/swtrust_fundraiser
All donors to this campaign are eligible for a Section 18A certificate issued by The SW Living Creatures Trust.
For Updates, follow the Live Life Always Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/livelifealwayssa
Sean Williams with Edharage Mukaro.
Launch your own crowdfunding campaign
About Zane Groenewald
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by Zane Groenewald | Mar 9, 2021 | Campaign, Featured
When Mornay Le Roux (49), a doting dad from Hilton, Kwa-zulu Natal was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August 2019, it shocked his family and three daughters aged 5, 19 and 26.
Rocked by the news but determined to put up a fight, Mornay, spent his life-savings to cover his medical expenses as he had to undergo a liver operation, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and cover the cost of his surplus hospital and surgeon bills.
Mornay and his daughters
After a year-long battle with this dread disease, doctors pronounced that Mornay was finally in remission.
This was a great feat for the Le Roux family, but their celebration was short-lived.
In October 2020, just two months after receiving the ‘all-clear’, tests revealed that Mornay’s cancer was back with a vengeance and had spread to his lymph nodes, liver, and had begun attacking his immune system. 
Mornay Le Roux
In November 2020, Mornay had to undergo another liver operation to remove a sizable tumour.
Whilst in hospital, he faced another setback when he picked up a superbug and had to be re-hospitalised for 7 weeks. Furthermore, Mornay had a fifth of his lung removed due to the abscess the superbug caused.
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
To continue his aggressive chemotherapy, which makes him incredibly ill, Mornay cannot return full time to his work as a labour consultant.
To alleviate the financial stress Mornay is facing, the Le Roux family has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to appeal to the public for support as Mornay fights for his health.
With the support of generous donors, over R 162 987.90 has been raised towards their fundraising target of R400 000 with contributions from 131 donors from Hilton, Pietermaritzburg and around the globe.
“Mornay is humble, kind, and was reluctant to appeal for any sort of donation, but at this point, it is all we have left. We want to alleviate the financial stresses he faces so he can focus fully on healing and his next 6 months of aggressive chemotherapy. We want and need him to be around for his family for many more years to come. “ – says Kelly Stegen who helped Mornay set up his campaign.
Support Mornay’s medical treatment by donating to his campaign here:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/mornay-le-roux
Donate Via Snapscan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/qr/mornay-le-roux
Launch your own crowdfunding campaign
About Zane Groenewald
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backabuddy, cancer, crowdfunding, KwaZulu-Natal, liver cancer, pietermaritzburg
Clean-up initiative rids Johannesburg of over 181 tonnes of waste as it gains momentum.
BackaBuddy partners with The Two Oceans Marathon for a unique virtual charity event
