Cassie Booyse (66), better known as Vernon Koekemoer or ‘SA’s Chuck Norris’, became an instant celebrity in 2008 after a photograph of him at a H2O Party went viral.
Currently, Vernon, who lives in Boksburg, Johannesburg, is fighting for his life, following three failed hip operations at Tambo Memorial Hospital. His fiance, Linda, says the only thing that can save him is a miracle.
Vernon’s health struggles began in 2018, when he began experiencing pain in his right hip due to advanced arthritis. Without medical aid, Vernon was booked for hip replacement surgery at Tambo Memorial Hospital in January 2019.
In the space of 5 years Vernon has undergone 3 failed hip surgeries
The operation seemed to have been successful at first. Vernon was advised to attend physiotherapy to exercise his hip to build muscle strength, but he struggled through the sessions, experienced more pain than before the operation and was unable to walk without crutches.
Months passed and Vernon returned to his surgeon, who agreed to perform a total hip replacement in February 2020. After the procedure, the surgeon discovered that the steel pin used initially was the incorrect size.
“After the total hip replacement revision, when the drain pipes were removed, the wound did not heal and was continuously draining. We returned to the surgeon to discuss the outcome many times but were dismissed” – says Linda
Vernon with his wife, Linda
After Vernon’s second hip operation, his teeth began falling out and he complained of severe pain. Again, Vernon’s wound was infected. To make matters worse, Linda pulled a 30cm string out of Vernon’s wound that was left in after the procedure.
When the drainage of the wound got worse and resulted in additional pain, Vernon demanded a third procedure which took place in February 2022.
“Since day one after the surgery, he could not walk without crutches. Now his hip is full of infection, the steel pin used during the hip replacement is loose and causes extreme pain whenever Vernon moves” – says Linda
Linda says that Vernon has suffered avoidable pain, suffering and trauma over the last 5 years, which has kept him from living a full life and earning an income.
Fighting to stay alive
On Friday 16 September 2022, Linda called the ambulance to take Vernon back to Tambo Memorial Hospital, as Vernon could not take the pain of the infection anymore.
Vernon is currently bed ridden, fighting for his life, and in such immense pain that Linda says he’s contemplated taking his own life.
Picture above: Vermon
Support for Vernon
To help Vernon get back on his feet Good Morning Angels has been in contact with a specialist in hip replacement surgery and complications in Pretoria.
Hoping to determine an appropriate treatment plan, they have agreed to cover the cost of the consultation and the necessary tests.
Upon seeing Vernon’s story, H2O Party, have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, appealing to the public to assist Vernon with his medical costs, as well as the comprehensive after care he will need.
Since the launch of the crowdfunding campaign over R100 000 has been raised towards their fundraising target of R100 000.
“We just wanted to say thank you to all of our donors for their care, motivation and financial support. Your contributions mean a lot to us . This will help Cassie get well and healthy again. Thank you for your assistance during this extremely difficult time in our lives. It is greatly appreciated.” – says Linda
There has been a slight improvement in Vernon Koekemoer’s condition following yet another hip operation on October 17. Koekemoer’s life partner, Linda Coetzee, said he was transferred from Tambo Memorial to Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital on October 12 to go under the knife again.
“It was a long operation. They pushed him into the theatre at 22:45 and he came out at 03:00. It looks like it went well. He is doing a little bit better but is still in pain.
“The doctors cleaned his hip. They also put a spacer in his hip. It is a prosthesis and the antibiotics will help fight bacteria left behind,” she explained.
Coetzee said that Koekemoer will have to undergo the same process if the infection has not cleared up. – Tayla Smit fromLetaba Herald
“Apart from our BackaBuddy campaign, Vernon has been supported by a number of donors who have contributed towards our medical and living expenses:
Nando’s has donated R87 000,
Jacaranda FM (Good Morning Angels) has donated R30 000,
H20 donated R20 000,
A family from the Netherlands has donated R15 000
R1500 has been donated from people who have called in” – says Linda
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 R340 Million.
Picture above: Noluthando and her Support team competing at SA Para Surf Championships, KZN 2022 Photo Credit Scott Mitchel
For the FIRST time South Africa will be sending 14 para surfers (9 male and 5 female) to the World Para Surf Championships to be held at Pismo Beach, California from 4-11 December 2022.
Speaking about the athletes, who have earned a top spot at this year’s Championship, 9 x South African surfing champion and SA Para Surfing Head Coach, Roxy Davis said:
“Surfing is my medicine. It remains a privilege to share para surfing and surf therapy with thousands of surfers with disabilities and volunteers across the Western Cape through a formalised Para Surfing Programme that started in 2016.”
“There are a particular group of surfers who, no matter their (dis)ability, come down to the beach, adapt, excel” – says Roxy
Meet the incredible Para Surfers:
Raemondo Lessing (WC), Noluthando Makalima (WC), Michele Macfarlane (WC), Caleb Swanepoel (WC), James Sinclair (KZN), Similo Dlamini (KZN), David Williams (KZN), Doug Hendrikz (KZN), Martin Ferreira (GP), Tracy McKay (KZN), Alulutho Tshoba (KZN), Oliver Sinclair (KZN), Asande Sibisi (KZN), Sabelo Ngema (KZN) and Jean Paul Veaudry (EC).
“Our athletes have shown hard work, bravery and commitment and now have the opportunity to fly the South African flag proudly as they tackle the WORLD’S biggest para surfing competition. This group of diverse and differently-abled sportsmen and women proudly represent everything South Africa stands for.” – says Roxy
The team, who will be accompanied and supported on the ground and in the water by five team coaches and a team physiotherapist from South Africa, have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, appealing for support to make their dream a reality.
Since the launch of the campaign, more than R680 000 has been raised towards their fundraising target of R1,019,000.
MEET RAEMONDO
Raemondo Lessing (15) a quadruple amputee from Khayelitsha, who uses prosthetic legs for mobility and requires the support of a chaperone for his trip. He will be competing in the Men’s Prone 2 (assisted) division.
MEET NOLUTHANDO
Noluthando Makalima (35) who has Cerebral Palsy and also lives in Khayelitsha, utilises a wheelchair and crutch and will require the support of a chaperone for her trip. She will be competing in the Women’s Prone 2 (assisted) division. Noluthando previously placed second at the World Para Surfing Championships in California in 2020.
All funds raised will be allocated to the following costs per athlete:
Flights and assisted airport transfers R25,000, Subsistence R6,000, Ability friendly accommodation R13,000, Entry and Classification Fees R6,000 and Visa R2,750.
Total cost per athlete: R52,750 (team total cost of R738,500)
Total cost per athlete support team member (coaching, chaperone and management team): R46,750 each (support team total cost of R280,500)
Raemondo, core activation, balance and posture strengthening session
“In 2020 the SA team came 6th out of 22 countries and brought home 4 medals. After missing 2021 (due to the Pandemic), team South Africa 2022 are eager to get out there and show the world their skills and win Para Surfing medals for South Africa!” – says Roxy
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.
Legendary South African ultramarathon athlete, Bruce Fordyce (66), who has won the Comrades Marathon eight years in a row and nine times overall, is supporting a new challenge to provide each parkrun event in South Africa, with a defibrillator to help save lives.
Bruce, who took part in his first parkrun at Bushy Park in April 2011, says the event is a place where runners, joggers, walkers and volunteers gather to have fun and to experience happiness.
“When I took part in my first parkrun at Bushy Park in April 2011 I was completely captivated by the experience and I knew parkrun would have to come to South Africa and that it had the magic ingredients to bring communities together and to bring great joy to people.” – says Bruce
A record-breaking campaign
In his role as President of parkrun South Africa, Bruce is promoting a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, working closely with global defibrillator supplier, Aero Healthcare, to raise R4 Million to provide almost 200 parkrun events with a defibrillator, which costs R20 000 each.
Since the launch of the campaign almost R130 000 has been raised with the support of 242 donors.
“This will be an ongoing project. It will be quite a challenge, but I know South Africans love to rise to challenges and the resilient South African spirit is legendary. Globally defibrillators have saved many lives. Now it’s our turn.” – says Bruce
Thankfully, Critical heart-related incidents at parkrun are exceptionally rare. But, when they do happen, the chances of survival are 65% higher when a defibrillator (AED) is used within minutes, according to parkrun’s comprehensive reporting database.
“We want to keep parkruns as joyful places and to keep them happy we need to ensure that they are as safe as possible. I would like to invite you to join me in making the dream of providing 200 defibrillators a reality, for every parkrun event across South Africa.” – says Bruce
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 R330 Million.
Pictured above: Kyle with his grandmother, Margie.
Colin (71) and Margie Jones (69), doting grandparents from Hillcrest, Durban, have dedicated most of their lives to caring for their grandson, Kyle Skidmore (29), who lives with a rare, inherited condition.
At the age of 12, Kyle was diagnosed with Fanconi Aplastic Anaemia, a disease that occurs when a patient’s bone marrow stops producing platelets. Patients living with this condition are prone to infections and uncontrolled bleeding.
Doctors told Kyle that without a Stem Cell transplant, he wouldn’t see his 21st birthday.
“I remember the weight of our worry before Kyle received his Stem Cell transplant. On the weekdays he would attend school which he loved. On a Friday afternoon, he would visit the haematologist and be admitted to the hospital for the weekend, to receive Platelets and Blood.” – says Colin
In January 2012, Kyle finally got the call that a donor match was found for him in Germany, and he soon underwent a Stem Cell transplant at UCT academic hospital in Cape Town.
Pictured above: Kyle before receiving his Stem Cell Transplant in 2012.
After 6 months in hospital, he was eventually discharged, was able to return home, and completed his Matric the following year.
Things were finally looking up for Kyle. After his transplant, his platelet count steadily improved until they were near normal levels. He had a new lease on life and was living a happy, healthy life.
A new diagnosis
In December 2021, 10 years since Kyle’s transplant, Kyle began experiencing complications and his lungs began to deteriorate.
After numerous tests and scans in June 2022, Kyle received the devastating news that he has developed Pulmonary Veno Occlusive Disease, another rare genetic condition, characterised by the blockage of the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart (the pulmonary veins).
Doctors say that Kyle’s prognosis is very serious, and that he will need to live on oxygen almost 24 hours a day for the rest of his life.
Currently, Kyle is using a home-based non-portable oxygen concentrator, provided by his medical aid, that keeps him sustained.
Crowdfunding on BackaBuddy
Hoping to give Kyle a better quality of life and allow him to explore life beyond his home environment ‘for the rest of his years’, his grandparents have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to purchase a Portable Oxygen Concentrator suitable for his needs.
Pictured above: A portable oxygen concentrator will give Kyle a new lease on life
While Kyle has comprehensive medical aid, a portable oxygen concentrator is not available in his plan.
The Jones’, who are both pensioners, work to provide for themselves and their disabled grandson, who is unable to work, and want nothing more than to give Kyle the life he deserves.
“Our hearts break for our grandson who watches the world go on without him from his window. All he has ever wanted was to be healthy to live unencumbered and have the freedom to spend time with his friends and family” -says Colin
Pictured above: Kyle with his grandparents, Colin and Margie.
Since the launch of the campaign more than R17 000 has been raised towards their fundraising goal of R65 000, with kind contributions from 12 donors.
Funds raised will be used to purchase the device, an additional battery to compensate for load shedding, as well as inevitable maintenance costs.
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.
Brittany McCormick (25) a keynote speaker from Paarl, Western Cape, was born premature at just 25 weeks.
Attached to ‘every pipe and tube imaginable’, Brittany spent the first 3 months of her life in the intensive care unit, where her anxious parents Hadley (59) and Anthea (53) watched over her.
At the age of 1 Brittany was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy Quadriplegia of high muscle tone, told she would never be able to walk, and that living past the age of 18 would be a ‘miracle’.
Defying the odds, Brittany learned to crawl at 2, and with the help of physiotherapy during lockdown, she can now even walk short distances on her treadmill with little assistance, a major triumph.
“I had come so far with learning to walk that I didn’t want to backtrack, so my family and I kept it going throughout the lockdown. During this time, I felt I needed a challenge, so I took part in the virtual races of the justice league and completed the entire series. Fast forward a year and a bit, I’m still learning to walk unassisted.” – says Brittany
Putting her best foot forward
Near the end of 2021, the pipes beneath Brittany’s wheelchair cracked, and was in dire need of a service. Spending 10 days without her wheels, Brittany was put in a humbling position.
“I understood first-hand how reliant I am on my wheelchair, and how limiting life can be if your mobility is taken away from you. I began thinking of the people who aren’t in the financial position to afford a wheelchair, let alone get it repaired. This struck a string within my heart.” -says Brittany
Challenging her will and her abilities, Brittany came up with an idea to give at least 6 individuals their own wheelchair, by walking 100km on her treadmill over 6 months.
To make her charitable dream come true, Brittany launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy with a fundraising goal of R70 000, to benefit Paarl School in Brackenfell, who will select the underprivileged beneficiaries most in need.
Since the launch of her campaign on 4 April 2022, Brittany has raised over R54 0000 with kind contributions from 66 donors. For every R8500 raised, Brittany will fund a wheelchair for someone in need.
While she had originally intended to walk 100km in six months, Brittany has completed walking 100km since she started her incredible journey 4 months ago.
I not only reached the 100km target but took on another challenge for the last day of my 100km walk. We needed to hit the last 1 with a bang, so a 2-hour challenge was set. I had never walked for 2 hours before, and little did I know that I would achieve another personal goal when I started this amazing journey. I managed to get to a distance of 3kms. I didn’t do this alone I had my family and we all challenged ourselves to do something for 2 hours that we found difficult.
One of my biggest goals going into this was wanting to show that no matter what others’ opinions are it’s your determination, drive and willpower that really matter in the end.
This journey has taught me to have a different respect for my body and health as well as my mindset. It has given me a new view and perspective of what your inner abilities really are and a new level of not only determination but dedication.
Thank you to everyone who liked, shared, featured the purpose walk, and interviewed me for their publication. And a very special thank you to my family and friends for pushing me when I felt I have very little left. For the continuous encouragement and for celebrating the small milestones with me that were huge achievements in small ways I’m forever grateful. – says Brittany
This journey of the purpose walk is not yet over, I still need your help to hit my target. We have come too far to give up, we are all in this together. Our vision and dreams can become a reality if we work together.
If you’d still like to contribute towards her dream and help others, Brittany’s campaign is still open and accepting donations.
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 R314 Million.
Greg Bertish (51) from Kommetjie, Western Cape was diagnosed with Endocarditis, which is caused by a bacteria that attacks the heart valves. He was only 30 years old.
Tests revealed that his heart was swollen 30% bigger than normal, and his aortic valve was destroyed and almost non-existent. He was rushed in for emergency Open Heart Surgery and the Ross Procedure.
In April 2016 Greg Bertish sailed an 8 foot Children’s Optimist dinghy around the Cape of Storms. He crossed False Bay, rounded Cape Point and headed for Langebaan Lagoon on the wild West Coast. His 200-kilometre journey matched the 200 days he had spent in hospital fighting life-threatening heart infections.
Little Optimist Trust
After Greg’s life-changing adventure, he founded The Little Optimist Trust, and penned a children’s book about a little believer with a HUGE heart, hoping to teach kids that being small, sick, poor or different is OK. And prove that they too can survive and thrive, get better, be better and follow their passions and dreams.
To date, The Little Optimist Trust has raised over R3.2 Million rand and has impacted more than 500 000 children.
Optimising Bathrooms for Special Needs children
This October, The Little Optimist Trust is taking on a humble quest, to uplift Astra School, an institution for 300 physically and mentally disabled learners between the age of 5 and 18 in Montana, Cape Town.
The school’s hostel is in dire need of beautification and an upgrade, as more than 45 students use the rundown facilities. Bathing is a challenge for wheelchair users in particular, as the showers are not in working order, and the students are currently unable to shower while seated.
Hoping to raise R70 000 to launch phase 1 of the renovation project, which will allow the organisation to purchase the building materials needed to upgrade two bathrooms, The Little Optimist Trust has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy.
Since the launch of the project, more than R20 000 has been raised through kind contributions from 13 donors.
“With this initiative, not only will we finally have working bathrooms again, but this will bring love, hope and positivity to these kids who need this more than anything. Thank you for helping us to restore our dignity” – says Melanie Mabotha, Principal of Astra School.
Students from Astra School.
In collaboration with Italtile Ceramics and Italtile Foundation, The Little Optimist Trust has thus far raised over R100 000 to start their project and has received tiles, baths, and basins to the value of R133 000 from Italtile stores across the country.
“With additional support, we are optimistic that we will get all hands on deck to start our project in October 2022. We hope that you will join us in making a meaningful difference in the lives of these wonderful children, by providing them with the facilities and opportunities that so many of us take for granted.” – says Greg Bertish, Founder of The Little Optimist Trust
*All donated funds will be paid into The Little Optimist Trust account which will then be paid to contractors for building materials.
Donors are eligible for a section 18A certificate issued by The Little Optimist Trust on request.
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 R340 Million.
