On 20 June 2021, Nicolaas Serfontein (36), an admired swimming teacher from Melkbosstrand Cape Town, was rushed to the emergency room at Blaauwberg Netcare Hospital, after his wife, Tina, struggled to wake him up.
Doctors soon realised after conducting two Lumbar Punctures, and several tests, including multiple CT and MRI scans, that Nicky had contracted a rare form of meningitis and was also experiencing kidney failure.
Pictured above: Nicolaas Serfontein
To save Nicky’s life, he was put on a ventilator, placed in an induced coma for 4 days, and given a number of medications and drips.
A Long road to recovery
While Nicky has moved into a medical ward, after 20 days in ICU, doctors predict that his road to rehabilitation will be a long one due to the severe medical trauma he has endured.
Nicky will soon need to begin occupational therapy as well as physiotherapy to make a full recovery and continue living life to the fullest.
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
To assist Nicky with his medical costs as well as his living costs for the next couple of months, a member of his family, Zaren Knight (33), has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to appeal to the public for support in raising R100 000 to help Nicky get back on his feet after this traumatic and unexpected ordeal.
“Everyone knows Nicky as the kindest person with the biggest heart. He has a spirit of love and always puts others first. I always say that I’m a black-and-white person (yes and no), and Nicky is all the beautiful colours in between. He is the love of my life, and he is loved by so many. He is always ready to help someone else, but right now he needs our help. Please stand with us in prayer as now, Nicky needs our help” says Nicolaas’ wife, Tina.
Pictured above: Nicky with his wife, Tina.
Since the launch of the campaign, over R14 000 has been raised from kind contributions from 22 donors who have left warm messages of encouragement for Nicky in his time of need.
‘Running with a smile’, Zaren, who is admittedly not a trained runner, ran over 20km, around the entire Swakopmund in Namibia on the 10th July 2021, to raise funds for Nicky’s campaign, pledging to donate R100 herself, for every kilometer she completed.
Make a donation to support Nicolaas by donating here:
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 R260 Million.
In July 2020, Shaun and Bianca Pretorius from Benoni, Johannesburg, learned the devastating news that their son, Shaunie (12), a bright and happy young boy, was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive, and terminal type of brain cancer called Brainstem Glioma.
A devastatingdiagnosis
At the beginning of lockdown, Shaunie was struggling with fatigue and constant vomiting. Thinking that his condition was perhaps brought on by school stress and adapting to online learning, his parents took him to a number of doctors to see what was wrong.
Matters soon got worse when the antibiotics he was given did little to remedy his condition. Shaunie began struggling with his eyesight, had difficulty moving around and battled to communicate.
Shaunie having a CT scan at Linmed Hospital
To determine the cause of Shaunie’s rapid decline, he was taken for CT scan at Linmed Hospital in Johannesburg.
The heartbreaking results of the x-ray determined that Shaunie has a cancerous tumour in his brain stem, a fatal condition known as Brainstem Glioma, which has a median survivalrate of only 9 months.
With doctors unable to operate on Shaunie, he underwent 12 aggressive Radiation Therapy sessions to shrink his tumour and alleviate some of his pain.
To shelter Shaunie from the severity of his condition, his parents didn’t tell him that his tumour was cancerous, but he understood why he was beginning to lose his hair and that he was unwell.
“Hearing that your child, who has always been perfectly healthy, is fighting a deadly disease and only has a few months left to live is devastating. We don’t know how to tell Shaunie that he is dying. We still have hope that God will hear our prayers and that he will make it through” – his mom, Bianca said.
As there is no cure for Shaunie’s condition, he was being treated symptomatically with cannabis oil and steroids to help the swelling on his brain and increase his appetite.
Shaunie’s Birthday Wish
As only 1% of children diagnosed with Brainstem Glioma live up to 5 years, the Pretorius family focused on keeping Shaunie as healthy, as pain free and as comfortable as possible so he could enjoy the time he had left with his parents and his little brother, Mattie (3).
Shaunie with his little brother, Mattie.
Focusing on all the things that spark joy for a young boy, Shaunie’s uncle Juandre Botha launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to fulfil Shaunie’s ultimate dream of owning a Playstation 5, just in time for his 12th birthday on the 9th of March.
Shaunie on his 12th Birthday
With generous support, Shaunie’s campaign raised over R24 000 and he was able to get the playstation he always longed for and was able to cover more of his medical expenses.
Shaunie playing with his brother
Update: Rest in Peace, Brave Shaunie.
On the 2nd of July 2021, Shaunie lost his battle with Brainstem Glioma.
“It is with devastating sadness that we would like to let you know that Shauni passed away in his father’s arms this morning after a year fighting Brainstem Glioma.The family’s hearts are broken and we please ask for your prayers and love for them on this most devastating day. Shauni is a hero, having fought through all this time and will be remembered as being forever young – a bright, kind and loving child who brought joy to everyone around him.Thank you to everyone for all the love and support through the year that Shauni and his family have been fighting this monster disease.Thank you to all the contributors, well wishes, prayers, blessings and kind words from you all. It is greatly appreciated.You are welcome to send us messages on this group so that we may forward on to Shauni’s family.” – A message posted on Shaunie’s Facebook group.
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.
Earlier this week, South Africans experienced the harsh reality of once again moving back to the Adjusted Alert Level 4 regulations, due to the increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections.
The virus has been the greatest global shock in decades resulting in tens of millions of people losing their livelihood and falling into extreme poverty.
Standing in solidarity to flatten the curve of the Covid-19 pandemic, here’s a list of crowdfunding initiatives on BackaBuddy to support.
How will you MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Categories you can support:
Medical Practitioners and Healthcare facilities
Local Restaurants
Individual Initiatives
Charities
Animal NPC and Shelters
Shelters
Supporting Medical Practitioners and Healthcare facilities
Gift of the Givers Foundation
The Gift of the Givers Foundation has been involved in multiple interventions during the third wave of Covid-19, by not only standing behind our medical front-line heroes but also distributing blankets in the winter cold, providing home-based care networks with oxygen concentrators, supporting vaccination sites, and delivering water and PPE’s as requested. This campaign has successfully raised over R2 Million thus far, all thanks to the generosity of the donors who have timeously contributed to their cause.
By donating to this campaign, all donors qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by the Gift of The Givers.
Masks for Medics
To help support medics during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, Masks for Medics, a non-profit initiative based in Cape Town, South Africa, has re-launched its crowdfunding campaign to supply non-hospital-based front-line healthcare workers with medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE). The campaign has raised over R600 000 thus far. Read more
Support the Masks for Medics initiative by donating to their BackaBuddy campaign.
The Witkoppen Clinic
The Witkoppen Clinic is a comprehensive primary healthcare clinic that has bravely played a part in giving back by creating a campaign to help purchase PPE’s for their clinical staff and preparing its clinic for the required safety protocols for increasing Covid-19 infections.
By donating to this campaign, all donors qualify for a Section 18A tax certificate issued by The Witkoppen Clinic.
#SanitizeSouthAfrica
#SanitizeSouthAfrica is a movement created by a group of young South African women, to raise funds towards providing sanitization materials to communities who do not have the luxury of self-isolating and access to clean water sanitation.
Play your part by giving back and donating to this BackaBuddy campaign.
Supporting Local Restaurants
Hout Bay Restaurant Staff Support Cause
To assist their employees during the Lockdown Level 4 restrictions, local restaurant owners of the Hout Bay community have started a campaign to raise funds for their employees to cover basic necessities. The campaign is estimated at R25 000 to support over 150 staff members.This will likely afford them around R150 per person which isn’t much, especially considering the uncertainty around whether this lockdown will be extended beyond 2 weeks.
Support this cause by donating to the Hout Bay Restaurant Staff Support Cause on BackaBuddy.
Lexi’s Livelihoods
The co-owner and chef at the Lexi’s, Lexi Monzeglio from Sandton – Johannesburg, has started a campaign to raise funds for the amazing team of employees that has carried them through the past year. The funds will cover the 100 employees, not for just the next 2 weeks estimated but the months of healing that come after.
Support this local favourite by donating to their campaign on Backabuddy.
Supporting Individual Initiatives
Fundraising for Nazreen Salie
Since last year’s National Lockdown due to Coronavirus, Nazreen Salie has experienced a harrowing 18-months of loss of income. Sadly, it has resulted in both unemployment and potential homelessness. Help her raise funds on her BackaBuddy campaign to avoid her becoming just one more homeless person living on the streets of Cape Town.
Support Nazreen’s cause by donating to her BackaBuddy campaign.
Tom Osborne Medical Cause
Recently diagnosed with Covid-19, Tom Osborne from Fourways – Gauteng, is currently fighting for his life in ICU with medical bills piling up by the day. His family and friends have started a BackaBuddy campaign to help Tom and his mother- Brenda, urgently raise the funds needed . Your donations can help him ease the battle, as he also suffers from Type One Diabetes.
Support Tom’s medical cause on hisBackaBuddy campaign.
Liesl Joubert – Covid-19 battle
Currently battling Covid-19, Liesl Joubert is hospitalised at Eugene Marais Hospital suffering from severe lung damage due to the disease. Her niece, Alicia, has started a BackaBuddy campaign to help raise funds in covering Liesl’s upcoming medical expenses which include, but are not limited to, full-time oxygen treatment and home care for at least the next month, the remainder of the hospital bill, and a backup generator for oxygen machine to cover load shedding sessions.
Support Liesl’s recovery by donating to her BackaBuddy campaign.
Supporting Charities
The Cradle of Hope
Caring for, protecting, rehabilitating abused and vulnerable women, The Cradle of Hope has thus far raised over R 15 000 in its effort to continue providing a safe comfortable home for families who need their support. With funds and food parcels running out, the charity appeals to you to help them continue their great work.
Support The Cradle of Hope charity by donating to their BackaBuddy campaign.
Early Childhood Development Covid-19 Relief Fund
To continue to provide bridging financial aid for early childhood development programmes, the ECD-Support-Fund campaign was created to support ECD’s ongoing operating costs and the salaries of their employees. If the ECD programmes would have to close down due to Covid-19, it will not only have an impact on the staff but also on their young children who benefit from these programmes.
Support Early Childhood Development’s cause by donating toBackaBuddy.
Jesse -Tour De Covid-19 2021
Jesse Sher has started an amazing 109km virtual cycling race fundraising initiative for the Rohan Bloom Foundation, which is building the First Specialized Paediatric Palliative Care In-Patient Hospice in the Western Cape. This inspiring campaign was created to continue supporting the organisation despite the canceled or postponed Cape Town Cycle Tour due to the pandemic restrictions.
He has raised over R4 000 for his campaign on BackaBuddy and is appealing for more funds.
Support Jesse’s cause by donating to hisBackaBuddy campaign.
Bet on Better
To bring hope to the Informal Settlement of Groot Marico- North West, Bet on Better is raising funds to help provide food hampers, water, and electricity for those who don’t have the necessities like running water in their community.
Support Bet on Better on their mission, by donating to this cause on BackaBuddy.
SWEAT: Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce
SWEAT together with Sisonke: National Movement of Sex Workers in South Africa, has created a solidarity fundraiser that will help sex workers in need of emergency financial relief during this pandemic. With their work not being recognized in South Africa due to criminalization, they have created a BackaBuddy campaign to help bridge the income gap for sex workers across all of South Africa.
Help a “WORKER” today by donating to Sweat’s campaign on BackaBuddy.
The Dlala Nje Foundation
The Dlala Nje Foundation has relaunched its campaign on BackaBuddy which has raised over R145 000 to cover their staff’s salaries and day-to-day fixed and running costs, as they are unable to generate funds through their Johannesburg inner-city tours with the implementation of the adjusted lockdown. Their community centre offers a safe, diverse and engaging environment for children and the youth.
Support The Dlala Nje Foundation’s cause on their BackaBuddy campaign.
Supporting Animal NPC/ Shelters
Animal Rescue SA
Animal Rescue SA needs your help to keep the lights on. Every month they care for almost 300 animals at their shelter in Brakpan, but during the pandemic, expenses have piled up and the organisation is facing eviction. Your small donation to this campaign will make an enormous impact.
Founder of Bambelela Wildlife Care NPC, Silke von Eynern, has raised over R280 000 on their campaign, to help keep their doors open as the lockdown has directly affected their fundraising efforts and the organization’s sustainability.
Continue supporting this cause by donating to their campaign on BackaBuddy.
DIY Wild
As a wildlife charity located in South Africa in the Mpulamanga region, DIY Wild relies on the help of international volunteers whose donations are their only source of funding. With the Lockdown Adjusted Level 4 implementation, they have not only lost all of their volunteers who were booked during this time, but they have also not received any new bookings. Your donations can help feed all the animals at the centre and also pay salaries while their staff are safe at home with their families.
As their Annual Tin Collection (where they stand outside supermarkets with tins, collecting coins) has been cancelled for the second year in a row due to Covid-19, Aurora Special Care Centre has launched a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds for fees and groceries for the centre which feeds children who are orphaned – to keep our pantry full.
Show your support by donating to someone in need, keep the lights on of your favourite local restaurant or raise funds to help a daycare of your choice. Your support may mean the absolute best in getting them through the next 14 days and possibly beyond.
Create your own crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy:
BackaBuddy has supported more than 10 000+ individuals and charities in setting up crowdfunding campaigns for medical fees, tuition, and various other causes in South Africa.
To help support medics during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, Masks for Medics, a non-profit initiative based in Cape Town, South Africa, has re-launched its crowdfunding campaign to supply non-hospital-based front-line healthcare workers with medical-grade personal protective equipment (PPE).
Pictured above: “We still need to be caring for the carer by providing much need PPE especially during this third wave,” Dr Julie Etellin, one of the founding doctors of Masks For Medics
Masks for Medics was launched by a group of caring family doctors in May 2020, with the profound understanding that in order for individuals, families and communities to be kept safe during the pandemic, it is imperative that our courageous healthcare workers on the front line have the necessary resources to keep themselves safe.
Picture above: Keeping the nurses at Badisa safe.
Generous public support
Over the last 11 months, with tremendous support from generous donors both locally and internationally, as well as over R605 000 raised through their crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, Masks for Medics has supported frontline workers by:
Distributing PPE to 212 individuals and 386 institutions including 29 102 gowns, 345 080 aprons, 251 535 surgical masks, 29 248 respirator masks, 10 484 visors, 11 286 gloves, 18 792 sanitiser bottles, 401 pulse oximetry monitors and 478 thermometers – all medical grade.
They have also provided 261 sanitiser foot pedals and 328 Perspex screen dividers to allow elderly care facilities to continue allowing visitors and to keep administrative staff safe.
Picture: Cooks and staff at over 550 feeding scheme locations in the Western Cape now have PPE!
Protecting carers in the third wave
With the increase of COVID-19 cases in this third wave with a new variant, Masks for Medics, aims to broaden their beneficiary base within the Western Cape province to include homeless shelters and more feeding schemes with a continued focus on Elderly Care Facilities and individual Healthcare Workers, ensuring that those who are frontline carers receive medically certified PPE. This will not only keep them safe but also the children, the elderly and the sick in our communities.
Pictured above: Masks for Medics Directors – Dr Lauren Lee, Dr Sonia Hough, Dr Julie Etellin
“We call on those who can, to please donate generously and assist us in fulfilling our mandate of keeping our Frontline Workers safe! Please support our BackaBuddy campaign and help grow our emergency relief fund. This will directly impact us all and help Masks for Medics in caring for the carers,” says Dr Julie Etellin, one of the founding doctors of Masks for Medics.
All donors to this campaign are eligible to receive a Section 18a Tax Certificate upon request.
Picture above:Thank you Masks For Medics!
About Masks for Medics
Drs Lauren Lee, Sonia Hough and Julie Etellin are 3 family doctors who banded together during a unique time in history. After witnessing the chaos the pandemic had on the entire world, Masks for Medics needed to act swiftly and be prepared to keep our healthcare workers safe. The prediction filtering in from Europe was for overwhelming numbers of sick people and they knew we needed to urgently collaborate on ideas to protect our frontline so they can better serve patients within their communities. Thus, the emergency campaign called Masks for Medics was launched. The initiative strives to procure and provide the necessary PPE to all our heroes on the frontline. The medical grade PPE we procure includes gowns, aprons, surgical masks, respirator masks, visors, gloves, sanitiser, pulse oximetry monitors and thermometers.
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 R260 Million.
Asher-Rheed is our pride and joy, our Rainbow baby. Our fighter in every sense of the word. We are from Parklands, Cape Town.
After going into early labour at 15 weeks and almost losing him, he fought to stay with us, at 34 weeks he made his grand entrance into the world, after only 18 days in the NICU we took our trooper home with us. He has been a blessing ever since.
In and out of hospital
Unfortunately despite every Dr and clinic app showing he was progressing well and doing great suddenly in February 2021 we had to rush him to the ER, the result was him having emergency surgery, the first of two. As we prepared ourselves for the second one after success on the first, we were faced with more health issues and now have loads of tests that need to be done to determine what exactly is wrong. lung tests, allergy tests, ENT’s, pneumologist the list goes on. Our medical aid is depleted and after all this, we still have that pending second surgery to do this year. We need help covering all the medical bills.
Our 19-month-old ball of sunshine and happiness deserves a normal childhood free from sickness and constant Dr trips. He loves school and hates missing so much of it. We hate seeing how not being at school hurts his little heart, we as parents just want to get him back on track and hopefully 100% healthy as fast as possible. We prayed for this little boy, we would give our lives for this little boy.
We are asking for any help to keep his medical bills, and medications covered so that he can get back to being at school all the time, thriving and growing and learning. Back to walking into school every day waving goodbye because he is so happy there, he doesn’t even cry when he is dropped off. No more constant coughs, runny noses, sleepless nights for weeks on end. No more sore body or wheezy chests, no more specialists and operations. Just a normal happy healthy almost 2-year-old boy. Please if you can spare something we would be ever so grateful and if not at least share it because you never know who might see it and be able to assist.
According to Stats SA, Four in 10 marriages don’t last longer than 10 years.
To help children cope with the emotional challenges and confusion that comes with divorce, Natalie Knox (46) a primary school teacher and a counselor from Cape Town, South Africa, now living in Spain, has penned a resource book called the ‘Mending Chronicles of Liam & Emily.’
The colourful handbook, which has an inspiring Christian message, is filled with advice and activities that give children the tools to navigate and express their feelings when their parents make the difficult decision to separate.
Divorce, Knox says, is a trickier subject than we realise, especially when young children are involved.
“Divorce is so common that I find people tend to think that kids can bounce back easily and will turn out okay. Sadly, in my experience, kids who aren’t given support and a safe space to process the changes and their emotions tend to carry related issues into their teenage years and adulthood. These stem potentially from unprocessed emotions and misconceptions kids pick up about themselves and their family during the divorce. These could look anything like feeling as if the divorce was their fault or they aren’t worth sticking around for.” – says Natalie
Teacher and author, Natalie Knox
Translating into Afrikaans
‘The Mending Chronicles of Liam and Emily’, which is currently only available in English, is already a page turner, having been a finalist at the 14th National Indie Excellence Awards in America.
To fulfil her dream of translating the book into Afrikaans, to reach and heal more families, Natalie has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy with the help of her friend of over 14 years, Lana Potgieter who lives in Bellville, Cape Town.
“Divorce knows no boundaries and happens in every culture and language. Sadly, resources to help and support families and children are not always easily available in other languages besides English. Books that deal with such personal and sensitive issues are more accessible and effective for the young reader if it’s in their mother tongue. So I think that The Mending Chronicles is going to be an incredibly helpful handbook for Afrikaans children who have experienced divorce, as well as a great addition to Afrikaans children’s literature.” – says Natalie
Since the launch of the crowdfunding campaign, almost R30 000has been raised towards the fundraising target of R70 000 which will cover the cost of the translator, editor, proofreader, designer and the first print run of the book.
“My hope for The Mending Chronicles handbook is that children of divorce can go on a journey with the main characters, Liam and Emily, and work through their own responses to divorce and be equipped to deal with the changes they face. I am a firm believer in the power of emotional intelligence to help children express themselves effectively so that they can communicate their thoughts and needs and receive the help and support they require. Spirituality is also part of Liam and Emily’s story, which I hope will be well received by the Afrikaans community. I’m very excited to think that this amazing resource can be made available to Afrikaans children in their own language bringing healing and emotional wellness to the next generation.” – says Natalie
Support this campaign by making a donation on Backabuddy here:
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 R250 Million.
Picture above: Keeping the nurses at Badisa safe.
Picture: Cooks and staff at over 550 feeding scheme locations in the Western Cape now have PPE!
Pictured above: Masks for Medics Directors – Dr Lauren Lee, Dr Sonia Hough, Dr Julie Etellin
Picture above:Thank you Masks For Medics!
