In 2016, Nika Du Toit (36), Acting Deputy Principal at Hope School in Westcliff, Johannesburg, met Katlego Legotlo (22), a charming student with a beaming smile, who had been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at only 6 months old.
Despite his challenges, Katlego was a dedicated student who achieved 3 distinctions in his matric year, which was during the first year of Covid. Nika says that Katlego’s gentle spirit and positive attitude had a profound impact on her life, and that his laughter lingered on when he eventually left the school.
“Katlego is a wonderful young man who has inspired me to live a better, more grateful life, since the moment I met him. He always smiles no matter how hard life gets. Who am I then to not smile and be grateful as well.” – says Nika
Nika and Katlego promised to stay in contact, and they bumped into each other at the Linden Market in early March 2023. Nika noticed that Katlego’s faithful manual wheelchair, which he used for years, was worn out and needed to be replaced.
Just before Katlego’s wheelchair broke, Nika launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to surprise him with an electric wheelchair that would transform his life and give him the freedom of movement he deserved.
Thirty donors responded to the BackaBuddy plea, contributing over R54,000 to help purchase Katlego’s new chair. The outpouring of love and support was overwhelming, and Nika was grateful to everyone who contributed.
On Thursday, 13 April 2023, Nika had a surprise for Katlego. She came up with a ruse to get him to visit and told him to close his eyes. When he opened them, he saw the Quickie Q50 R, the electric wheelchair that would change his life forever.
Katlego was beaming with excitement, and his reaction, captured on video, showing his gratitude and joy is difficult to put into words.
“If there is anyone that deserves this, it’s this precious soul. A person who always smiles regardless of his setbacks, he brings joy to all around him. It warms my heart to help people and make their lives a little easier. I can’t thank the donors enough for their unbelievable generosity,” says Nika.
If any additional funds are raised, they will be used to purchase Katlego a specialized car seat.
Katlego’s story is a reminder that a little kindness can go a long way and that we can all make a difference in someone’s life.
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 R400 Million.
Pictured above: Marissa has been riding horses for the last 14-years.
Marissa Barnard (30), a stable manager from Donkerhoek, Pretoria, suffered a devastating kick to the face while lunging a horse at her workplace, The Burgh Equestrian Estate, on 30 November 2020.
The accident left her with serious injuries to her upper jaw, nose, and sinuses, causing her severe pain and difficulty breathing.
Pictured above: Marissa Barnard after the accident
Without medical aid, Marissa initially received emergency treatment at a state hospital, but was in desperate need of specialised treatment, as the shattered bones in her face have healed in the wrong position, causing chronic sinusitis and leaving her in constant agony.
Needing R50 000 to undergo a procedure at The Nose Clinic, which did not include any external cosmetic work, Marissa’s mom, Ansie Barnard, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, appealing to the public to support her daughter.
Since the launch of the campaign, over R7000 has been raised with the support of 10 donors. The Burgh Equestrian Estate has also donated R30 000 to Marissa privately to assist her with her medical needs.
Marissa has undergone her operation although she still has outstanding hospital bills.
Pictured above: Marissa Barnard after the accident
Passionate about caring for horses, Marissa returned to work shortly after the accident, and has remained positive, despite her traumatic ordeal.
“This was a freak accident, with a loved competition horse. I don’t hold blame for the horse or the situation, even though the repercussions are still bad. Horses are still absolutely my passion, and seeing riders accomplish their best and overcome obstacles in life are what I am here for. I really hope to get this operation done so I can get back in the saddle and enjoy riding again.” – says Marissa
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 R400 Million.
Meiring De Clercq, a 33-year-old sports enthusiast from Nelspruit, had his life changed forever in 2019 when a reckless taxi driver caused him to crash into a stationary truck while training for the Ironman 70.3.
Pictured above: Meiring and his wife, Imogen
The accident left him with a broken back, ribs, sternum, and concussion, and he was later told by doctors that he was paralysed and would never walk again.
Despite the devastating news, Meiring remains a dedicated husband to his wife, Imogen, and father to his daughter, Mireyah, and has a positive outlook on life.
Pictured above: Meiring and Imogen, and their daughter Mireyah.
“The accident taught me that your life can change with the snap of a finger. Do not take any moment for granted because you never know when something can happen that will change your life forever.”
“It also taught me that you must grab every opportunity for adventure, you can choose to fall down in a hole and grieve what happened to you or you can stand up (excuse the pun) and grab every opportunity you can.” – says Meiring
Getting back in the game
Sports have always played a vital role in Meiring’s life, and he represented his school and national teams in various sports, including tennis, athletics, rugby, and golf. While he has been unable to physically participate in golf, his favourite sport, since the accident, he still enjoys going on tours with his friends.
Pictured above: Meiring with his friends on their annual golf tour
Thanks to a specialised wheelchair designed for paraplegics from Germany, Meiring may soon have the chance to play golf again. The electric chair will allow him to stand in a stable position while using his arms and hands to swing his golf clubs freely.
To raise funds for the wheelchair, Meiring’s family and golfing friends have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, which has already raised over R67 000 towards his fundraising target of R725,000.
Meiring is overjoyed at the prospect of being able to play golf again, a sport that has always brought him immense joy.
“Golf was a massive part of my life. With the help of this wheelchair, I will finally be able to participate in golf tours again, and not only cheer from the sidelines. It means that I can once again participate in local and national amateur golf tournaments and possibly one day play in the adaptive US OPEN. It also means that my dad and I can play our favorite sport together again,” – says Meiring
Pictured above: Meiring playing golf before his accident
Meiring’s story is a reminder that life can change in an instant and that we should cherish every moment. It is also a testament to the power of hope, perseverance, and the love and support of family and friends.
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 R390 Million.
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As BackaBuddy, a member organization of the Africa Scotland Business Network, we were fortunate enough to be selected as one of the beneficiaries of an event held by the network.
In exchange, we were asked to assist in sourcing auction items, which can be quite challenging. However, thanks to Ria Moothilal, the owner of Air School Paragliding and a previous campaign creator, we were able to auction off a free paragliding lesson as a prize!
We are incredibly thankful to Ria for this generous donation to BackaBuddy. As a passionate paragliding enthusiast and a true South African, Ria’s dedication to raising awareness about air sports and empowering Black paragliding instructors to start their own businesses is truly inspiring. Additionally, his commitment to sustainability, education, and animal welfare-related causes is remarkable.
In the past, he cycled from Cape Town to Cairo to raise funds for cochlear implants and to inspire children from their community that anything is possible. Now, through his paragliding school, he hopes to inspire people from all backgrounds to pursue their passions and make a positive difference in society.
Through the auctioning of a tandem paragliding lesson with Air School Paragliding, Ria has demonstrated his commitment to giving back to the community. The funds raised from this donation will go towards supporting various causes on our crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy.
If you’re interested in experiencing the thrill of paragliding and would like to support Air School Paragliding in Cape Town, you can book a tandem lesson with Ria at the details below. By doing so, you’ll not only get to enjoy an exciting adventure but also contribute to the growth of a local business.
Book your session:
Call: 078 095 8136
Address: The Six Building, 6, 633 Sydney St, District Six, Cape Town, 7925
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 R400 Million.
Raise funds for an individual or cause.
Register your non-profit organisation.
Create a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a non-profit organisation.
Nisha Varghese, a 31-year-old woman with cerebral palsy from East London, is on a mission to make a positive impact on the lives of abandoned babies.
Pictured above: Nisha Varghese
With her 32nd birthday just around the corner (25 March), Nisha has set out to raise funds for Breath of Life, an organization run by Restore Trust in East London that provides a safe and loving home for vulnerable babies who are waiting to be adopted or reunited with their biological families.
As a dedicated volunteer at Breath of Life since 2018, Nisha has witnessed first-hand the importance of this organization’s work. The home provides babies with a stable and warm environment, with House Mom, Abigail, House Dad, Christo, and House Siblings, Milo and Petal.
Nisha believes that every baby deserves a fair start in life, regardless of their circumstances.
“I cherish every moment spent with these little ones, knowing that I’m making a difference in their lives,” she says.
Pictured above: Nisha Varghese
To help provide the necessary care and resources to support these vulnerable babies on their journey towards a brighter future, Nisha has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy. The campaign aims to raise R32,000, and since its launch, over R20,000 has already been raised. These funds will go towards providing the home with essential supplies, including 3968 nappies, 7936 wet wipes, 28kgs of formula, 25 bottles of baby body wash, and 10 bottles of baby shampoo used each month.
Join Nisha in her mission to give these vulnerable babies a fighting chance.
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 R390 Million.
Raise funds for an individual or cause.
Register your non-profit organisation.
Create a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for a non-profit organisation.
KZN-based non-profit, Trulife, is taking a public stand against gender-based violence with their “WeSeeYou” awareness campaign – where runners across the world have signed up to complete 100 kilometers in 10 days.
Now in its second year running, the campaign will launch on Human Rights Day – the 21st of March. The aim is to increase awareness of Gender-Based Violence – and its many nefarious forms – that are rife in South Africa. This is done in two ways; by challenging each participant’s physical limitations as a constant reminder of drawing near to a victim’s pain, and secondly, to raise funds for Trulife’s nationwide GBV awareness programme in schools on BackaBuddy.
Colin Edmonds, founder and director of Trulife, explained the concept behind their WeSeeYou campaign like this;
“GBV is a silent, behind-closed-doors killer. The WeSeeYou movement is about shouting aloud to both victims and perpetrators that we’re bringing this issue into the light. The campaign hopes to send a strong message of support to victims of GBV – one where their fellow South Africans and global community stand with them in solidarity, making a choice to ‘run, so they don’t have to’.”
The ultimate goal is awareness and prevention, and so the funds generated from the campaign go directly towards Trulife’s annual schools campaign, helping the organisation reach more schools with GBV Awareness training. In 2023, Trulife hopes to raise over R600 000 to expand their project into Gauteng and the Western Cape, visiting over 120 schools from April 2023 – November 2023.
How does the challenge work?
Participants may enter as an individual or a team (with a max of ten members) on the Trulife website – https://trulife.org.za/weseeyou.
The registration fee is R300 which includes one WeSeeYou branded running shirt.
Teams may split the 100km amongst themselves as long as they collectively complete the target distance by day 10 of the challenge.
Each registered individual or team will have a profile created on crowdfunding platform, BackaBuddy with a fundraising goal of R5 000. For every R5000 raised, Trulife match the donation through private funding to take GBV training into a new school.
Runners are encouraged to join the WeSeeYou club on Strava to log their runs and receive motivation from their fellow participants. https://www.strava.com/clubs/1020892
The Project:
As a non-profit that exists to help young people make brave choices for a better future, Trulife’s Gender-Based Violence project aims to bring long-standing change in the way our country, and ultimately our youth, value themselves and others on the basis of gender and equality. Trulife hopes to empower through education and awareness, bringing to light issues of violence against women, children and other vulnerable groups.
As Linda Malevu, senior facilitator from Trulife explains, “the concept of a tree is used to drive the message home – for too long South Africa’s roots, our beliefs and values, have been poisoned. No wonder we see such rotten fruit in our people’s behaviour. By changing those roots, we can establish a new way of thinking, inspiring this generation to make a change for the better.”
In order to do this, the team has created a Primary and High School anti-GBV programme that uses multimedia and group discussion to address the underlying issues that contribute to GBV culture, prevention tactics, and where to get help. Trained facilitators from the Trulife team have already traveled throughout all 11 districts of KZN in 2022, delivering this important message to over 70 primary and high schools, and creating safe spaces for learners to come forward to share their stories or find help. This was made possible through the R549 000 raised from the first WeSeeYou campaign, alongside complementary funding from the Solidarity Fund and GBVF1 Response Fund.
Trulife is calling on businesses, communities, running groups and families to take up the challenge and change the tide of GBV in South Africa – one learner, one school, one community at a time.
To embrace a shared sense of purpose and camaraderie around the event, a kick-off run will take place on Tuesday the 21st of March at Forest Hills Running Club (Forest View) at 8:30am – with the option to complete a 5k or 10k walk/run. All are welcome!
About Trulife
Trulife is an NPO that works to improve the lives of South African youth through educational and creative content in the form of live productions, workshops and seminars. With over 11 years of experience, Trulife work with schools, universities, and the public to create relevant, home-grown videos and materials that address social and health issues including bullying, peer pressure, drugs and alcohol abuse, human trafficking, mental health, identity, leadership and more.
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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 R380 Million.
