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.
Sabine Muller (57) a physiotherapist, athlete and mother of two, from Hout Bay, Cape Town, is getting ready to take on the 13 Peaks, an epic Table Mountain adventure, alongside her running partner, Vuyo Spamla (47), to benefit abused children. Vuyo has one daughter and works as a domestic worker in Hout Bay and Camps Bay.
New Heights
Sabine and Vuyo are looking forward to the 13 Peaks challenge, a 100km, 6000m ascent route tagging 13 peaks of the Cape Peninsula, which starts on 29 October 2022.
While not seen as a race, but an opportunity to experience the beautiful nature that surrounds Cape Town, Sabine and Vuyo are training long and hard to complete the challenge in under 48 hours.
Sabine says that her life changed, and her passion for running ignited almost a decade ago, when her sister challenged her to train for the Meiringspoort Half Marathon in 2015
Sabine has since completed several marathons, 3 Two Oceans, 4 Comrades, 3 PUFfeRs, 3 Skyruns, a multi-day 13 Peaks with her Hout Bay Trail Runners, and loads of other races over the years.
“I have gained the fitness; stamina to deal with 12-hour physical work days whilst being a wife and mother; I have made friends with amazing like-minded individuals who have become close friends, including Vuyo; and I have gotten to enjoy the mountains around Cape Town and further afield as my running moved to include the trails.” – says Sabine
Peak for Purpose
Wanting to give back by using the 13 Peaks challenge as a vehicle, Sabine and Vuyo have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise R100 000 for a non-profit organisation, Friends of Child Protection.
Friends of Child Protection (FCP), which relies entirely on volunteers and donations, distributes comfort packs to children across the Western Cape who have survived a violent assault.
The packs provide comfort and dignity to children during a very traumatic time in their lives. The packs include snacks, underwear, face cloths and soap, a fun activity, a teddy bear to cuddle and other age-appropriate items including nappies and formula for the babies.
Friends of Child Protection packages and distributes an average of 1200 comfort packs every 2 months, which cost between R80-R120 each to produce.
“The number of packs requested consistently exceeds the number the organisation can supply and in December more packs are needed than any other month. Vuyo and I need your help to be able to reach every child in need this December” says Sabine
Since the launch of their campaign, Sabine and Vuyo have raised almost R29 000 with kind contributions from 32 donors.
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.
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.
On 22 October 2022, Nickey Seger (49), Owner of Curves Strubensvalley, her partner Grant Clack (60), and Leilani Kuter (48), Founder of Gender-based violence organisation, Yellow For Survivors, will be shaving their hair in support of the fight against breast cancer.
With a crowdfunding campaign launched on BackaBuddy, the trio hope to raise R50 000 to support Reach for Recovery (RFR), an autonomous non-profit organisation launched in the 1960s, that focuses on breast cancer support nationwide.
“Our organisation is built on a simple yet universal principle: that of one woman who has experienced breast cancer giving freely of her time and experience to assist and support another woman with breast cancer. Well-selected and trained volunteers, who each have experienced the breast cancer journey, render emotional care and practical support programmes to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and their families. ” – states their website.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than R4500 has been raised towards their target, which will be used to purchase prosthetics for ladies who have undergone a mastectomy, as well as specialised bras which hold the prosthesis in place.
“Every donation of R1000 will provide one lady who can’t afford this service with a prosthetic breast through Reach for Recovery, and help them regain their dignity and confidence after their harrowing battles with cancer.” – says Nickey
On how they feel about losing their hair, Leilani says:
“Shaving our hair is a small sacrifice that we hope will have a great impact. As a woman I can’t imagine the pain of losing my breasts, not for society, or the male gaze, but because they are so significant to my identity. I hope the public will support our campaign.” – says Leilani
Any Donations made to this campaign, are eligible for a Section 18A Certificate, issued by Reach for Recovery.
Champion crowdfunders
Since 2019, Leilani Kuter from Roodepoort, has raised over R380 000 on BackaBuddy, in the fight against gender-based violence, through dedicated walks totalling more than 3000 km.
In 2021, Nickey Seger from Roodekrans, ran a total distance of 295.4km, along with her partner, Grant Clack, to honour a decade-long promise to put a young girl through her final year of school. The extraordinary campaign raised over R 136 000 on BackaBuddy.
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 R350 Million.
