Anastacia Marais, 22, from Meyerton, Gauteng, has been fighting acute myeloid leukemia since 2022 and is now racing to fund the bone marrow transplant that can save her life. On the 22nd of July, Ana’s boyfriend’s father, Christoffel Van Der Merwe, launched a community crowdfunding campaign in the hopes that Anastacia can receive the operation at a private Pretoria hospital with the right doctors, equipment and care. In the first 10 days, 44 donors gave R35,750 toward a target of R800,000—an early surge of kindness that mirrors Anastacia’s determination and the impact she has on those around her. Thanks to DKMS, half of the transplant cost will be covered; the campaign aims to raise the remaining amount so she can proceed without delay.
A mother who never left her side and a family that knows this fight
Christoffel started the campaign because Anastacia isn’t only dating his son, Gerhard—she’s become a special piece of the Van Der Merwe family.
“She’s a big part of our family—that’s why I started the campaign,” he says.
Their understanding runs deep: when Gerhard was just two, he too battled leukemia. The family remembers the fear and the long nights, and they’ve chosen, again, to meet it with gentleness and action.
Just as steadfast has been Anastacia’s mother, who has stood by her side from day one—taking her to every appointment, sitting long hours in wards, and phoning twice a day (three times when she couldn’t visit).
“My mother was my rock—she came to the hospital every single day for the first four months,” Anastacia says, adding heartfelt thanks to her stepfather and a far-flung network of relatives who checked in, visited, and brought comfort.
Anastacia grew up between Port Elizabeth and Cape Town with a devoted single mom—early lessons in courage and adaptation that now serve her daily. During the hardest stretches, Anastacia lived with Gerhard’s family and they provided for her—rides to appointments, meals on the tough days, and laughter on the better ones. Before illness, she was a whirl of curiosity and movement.
“I was curious about everything—I wanted to experience the world in every way I could,” she reflects.
Hiking, dance, karate—if it promised discovery, she tried it. That spirit didn’t disappear when cancer arrived at 19; it adapted. There was remission in 2023, a shattering relapse in 2024, and—after more courage than most see in a lifetime—remission again.
Through it all, she insists, “I’ve never stopped fighting. Not once.”
‘I chose to live, not just survive’
Her love story with Gerhard is a thread of steadiness.
“When I found out I had leukemia, I gave him the option to leave,” she says. “But he chose to stay. Not out of obligation—but out of love.”
His family echoed that choice, showing up with practical help and quiet faith. On her own side, the support has been just as fierce:
Alongside him, her mother’s constancy never wavered: lifts to treatments, bedside vigils, and daily calls that stitched courage into the toughest hours.
“My mom really stood by my side,” Anastacia says. “She made so much effort, and I wouldn’t be who I am without her.”
In 2024, with renewed remission, Anastacia took a brave step into life: she and Gerhard moved into their own place—close enough to family for help, far enough to practice independence.
“I didn’t want to just survive anymore—I wanted to live,” she explains.
The small rituals feel like victory: morning coffees, late‑night talks, and a home that holds both the scars and the laughter.
This Women’s Month, her message is clear. “Vulnerability isn’t weakness—it is power,” she says. “It takes real courage to open up, to say, ‘I need help.’ But when you do, the world meets you with more kindness than you ever imagined.” And to every woman navigating a hard road: “We are women. And that alone makes us warriors.”
Why this transplant—and this moment—matter
Doctors agree that a bone marrow transplant is Anastacia’s best and only path to lasting survival. The Pretoria team is ready; DKMS’s sponsorship halves the financial mountain; and the remaining funds will unlock the operation, after‑care and the chance to plan a future that is bigger than appointments and blood counts. The campaign has already shown what the community can do—R35,750 raised by 44 people—and this raise was done in just 10 days. Now the wider circle has a chance to finish what love began. Anastacia’s dream is disarmingly simple: study again, work a job she loves—perhaps genetics or zoology—earn her independence, and keep chasing sunrises with the people who never let go.
“That version of me still lives inside me today,” she says. “The illness changed my path, but it never dimmed my light or my hunger for life.”
Every rand given is routed straight to the hospital via a BackaBuddy Blue Tick campaign, ensuring transparency meets urgency. Each contribution becomes hospital days covered, specialist time secured, and a transplant scheduled at the right place with the right team. The generosity that carried her this far can carry her the final stretch—from surviving to living.
Share Anastacia’s story with your networks—every share widens the circle of care and brings her transplant closer.
To support Anastacia Marais visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
Become a blood stem cell donor in South Africa: start with DKMS Africa’s online sign-up to request a free cheek-swab kit (most donations are done as an outpatient via apheresis; ages 17–55). Alternatively, you can register with the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which accepts donors aged 16–45 and ships a swab kit or books you at a nearby
Mama Dolly, 71, from Masoyi, Mpumalanga, embodies the very essence of hope for children facing adversity in her rural community. For nearly a decade, she has run Phathekani Kahle After Care—a sanctuary where impoverished youngsters find support, education, and a sense of belonging. Today, her tireless work is under threat: the pit latrines (or the old-school “long drop,” as South Africans call them) are unsanitary and risk closure by the health department. As South Africa observes Women’s Month, Mama Dolly shines as a beacon of female leadership and resilience, inspiring women everywhere with her unwavering dedication.
Alexa first connected with Mama Dolly thr
ough her Gogo Theresa Banda—after witnessing the remarkable strides Dolly made with Gogo Theresa’s grandson, Fortune (Alexa contributes towards young Fortune’s school fees). When Mama Dolly reached out for a little extra help to renovate the toilets on the brink of shutdown, Alexa sprang into action, launching a BackaBuddy campaign one month ago to raise R 45 500 for vital upgrades.
A Lifelong Calling to Serve
After spending over 35 years shaping young minds as a primary school teacher, Mama Dolly felt a deep pull to keep serving her community even after retirement. Born into a Tsonga family and raised in Johannesburg, she endured the loss of her mother and sister and weathered unsupportive guardians—but her faith never wavered. In December 2015, she officially registered Phathekani Kahle After Care with the Department of Social Development, transforming a modest room beside the RR358 (Numbi Road) between White River and Hazyview into a safe haven. There, children—many raised by grandparents or living in dire circumstances—gather each day for academic support, a hot meal, and the kind of encouragement only someone with Mama Dolly’s passion can provide.
Her work is driven by the conviction that every child deserves a chance to succeed, regardless of background.
One afternoon, she remembers, a little boy came running, eyes shining, and cried, “Gogo Dolly, I can read and write now!”—a moment she said “healed my soul” and reaffirmed her conviction that education has the power to transform lives.
Building Dignity, One Toilet at a Time
Pit latrines pose serious safety hazards—even Mama Dolly recounts heartbreaking accounts of children slipping into the deep pits. Unsanitary and exposed, these facilities risk injury and infection. Without modern flushing toilets, Phathekani Kahle cannot secure a health certificate, threatening its very existence and leaving 40 vulnerable children without their safe haven.
A Community Rises Together
To date, 31 generous donors have contributed R 29,000 on the BackaBuddy platform as well as R 12,000 in generous offline donations toward the R 45 500 goal. Local businesses have pledged discounted materials, former students volunteer labor, and taxi drivers collect spare change. Teachers at Phathekani Kahle often go months without pay, fueled only by passion and the children’s need. The youngsters themselves buzz with excitement at the thought of clean, dependable facilities and uninterrupted classes.
“For years, we knocked on many doors seeking assistance and faced countless setbacks,” Mama Dolly reflects. “This is the first time we’ve received a donation—and for us, it is an answered prayer.” Her gratitude has rippled through Masoyi: elders share her story at church, and the traditional council has approved building plans, awaiting only final measurements.
Donations will first repair and upgrade the toilets. If the campaign exceeds its target, further funds will install a borehole—a reliable water source that eliminates costly water purchases, ensures year-round flush capability, and grants the school much-needed independence. Additional contributions could also cover ceiling and floor tiling, and secure fencing around the property.
Mama Dolly’s steadfast faith and relentless compassion have made Phathekani Kahle After Care more than a tutoring center—it is a symbol of hope for children written off by circumstance. With renovated toilets, a future borehole, and improved facilities, she can continue breaking educational barriers and restoring confidence. Yet many needs remain: stipends for devoted teachers, textbooks and uniforms for learners, reliable transport from remote homesteads, and essential teaching materials to enrich lessons. As community support grows during this Women’s Month and beyond, so does the promise of a brighter future for every child at Phathekani Kahle.
To keep supporting Mama Dolly’s vital work and brighten futures at Phathekani Kahle After Care, please consider making a recurring donation—every contribution directly empowers students and dedicated teachers, and continually multiplies hope.
Brandon Amronski, 62, is many things: a talented artist and photographer, a self-taught chef, a skilled potter, a gentle musician, a creative spirit, and above all — a loving dad. For the last few years, he’s poured everything he has into one dream: building a home of his own in Kommetjie, Cape Town.
With no contractor and no big budget, Brandon has been building his house — quite literally — with his own two hands. Brick by brick, alongside two faithful workers, he’s created a structure filled with hope, resilience, and heart. The project has taken over five years to materialise, as he first had to battle years of red tape just to gain approval to start construction. One year ago, he finally laid the first brick.
Brandon’s daughter, Luna, now 16, is the heart behind the BackaBuddy campaign trying to help him finish it. “I’m reaching out with a full heart and a shared dream — to help my beloved dad, Brandon, to finally finish the home he’s been building with his own two hands,” she says.
Brandon’s journey hasn’t been easy. At just 19, he fought in the war in Angola — an experience that left deep emotional scars compounded by his work as a press photographer from 1989-1998/9. More recently, he’s battled depression and PTSD while trying to recover from the devastating financial impact of COVID-19, which cost him much of his work and stability. Since then, he hasn’t been able to regain stable employment. The house became his anchor — a personal mission to create something lasting.
“This house means everything to him,” Luna shares. “It represents a place of safety, dignity, and a space where I can visit and sleep over — something we haven’t been able to do in years.”
Brandon currently lives in a small, one-bedroom cottage with no space for guests or family. His older daughter, who now lives in the Netherlands, has helped support him financially, but the budget has run out — and the house remains just shy of completion.
As Brandon’s 62nd birthday approaches on 25 July 2025, Luna hopes to give him the one thing he’s longed for: a finished home.
Instead of traditional birthday presents, Luna has set up a BackaBuddy campaign, inviting friends, family, and strangers alike to contribute toward specific costs still needed to complete the home:
R2,200 – Garage Door
R2,000 – Bathroom Tiling
R2,500 – One Week of Labour Support
R18,000 – Electrical Finishing
R20,000 – Geyser Installation
“Every bit helps,” Luna says. “This is more than a house — it’s a chance for him to feel proud again, to have his space, and maybe even find the motivation to re-enter the world.”
With R10,478 already raised toward their R59,000 goal, the dream is within reach.
To support Brandon’s dream and help him move into his home at last, visit the campaign here:
Kelby Parker (52) from West Rand – Gauteng is a husband, dad, mentor and off-road motorcycle enthusiast — a HUGE (for the people in the back, HUGE) KTM loyalist (KTM is an Austrian manufacturer famous for its off-road motor bikes and diehard fans) — whose life flipped in July when he was rushed to ICU for emergency surgery. What first looked like a prostate problem was in fact a ruptured colon abscess that triggered severe sepsis. He’s now facing Stage III colon cancer. The community he’s spent years lifting up is lifting him right back, so he can stay for the moments that matter: his daughter’s wedding, his son’s 18th, and his 30th anniversary with Fiona.
A love that began in primary school
Kelby and Fiona’s story reads like “The NoteBook 2” but with motorbikes. They met as kids in Alberton; he was a prefect, she was in Standard 3. Friendship deepened when Kelby worked at the local pool club, and when he left for the army, Fiona gifted him a chain engraved, “To Kelbs, Love Sis.”
On her 19th birthday, everything changed. “Something shifted that night,” Fiona recalls. “We spoke the whole evening, just the two of us… he kissed me over the wall — I fell hook, line and sinker.”
Ask around and you’ll hear the same about Kelby: he lights up a room and would “literally give you the shirt off his back.” He’s sponsored Moto-X riders, taken in children from unstable homes, hosted an exchange student, and — as daughter Kyla remembers — once drove through the night to Durban to support a colleague’s grieving family. “Dad’s got a really big heart,” she says simply.
The day everything changed
In January 2025, cramps sent Kelby to the GP — again and again. Blood tests suggested an enlarged prostate, and medication followed. When the symptoms wouldn’t clear, the urologist booked surgery for the earliest available date, 18 June. But recovery never came. “We held on for two weeks, hoping to see improvement, but it just didn’t happen,” Fiona says. They called the urologist on 30 June, got an MRI on 2 July, and by 3 July were urgently referred to a gastroenterologist. On 7 July, Kelby was admitted straight to ICU for an emergency, life-saving operation. Surgeons flushed his system and resectioned his bowels, leaving him with a colostomy bag — but they saved his life.
“Absolutely nothing,” Kelby says of what went through his mind before surgery. “I feel like I was completely numb… I truly believe my body was shutting down.”
He remembers the beeping machines, his hand instinctively reaching to his face to check for a ventilator, and “the absolute fear” on his family’s faces. For Fiona and the kids, the speed and severity of it all felt unreal: confusing, shocking, and terrifyingly fast.
Then came the final blow: pathology confirmed Stage III colon cancer. Chemotherapy lies ahead, likely delaying any colon reconstruction. How are they holding on?
“Belief! Where else do you turn in situations like this?” Kelby says. “We’re such a tight-knit family… and seeing everyone I’ve ever known reaching out to help not only me but my family too — it matters.”
When the helper needs help
On 10 July 2025, Fiona launched a BackaBuddy campaign to keep Kelby’s fight alive. Their OnePlan medical insurance covered R85,000 — exhausted on day one in ICU. Since then, the bills have kept rising, but so has the generosity: 74 donors have already contributed R268,100 toward the R380,000 target. Every rand will go directly to the family to settle hospital accounts and pay for Kelby’s ongoing treatment.
For Kelby, hope now has faces and names — and very real milestones. He wants to walk Kyla down the aisle, celebrate Troy-Lee’s 18th in January 2026, and toast 30 years of marriage with Fi in February.
“I just want to be able to hug my wife and kids again — a real tight hug,” he says. “I want to load up the bikes with Troy and Jordan and spend the day in the sun with friends and family… I’m optimistic, we will get there!”
Fiona says the support shown has flooded their home with hope:
“The support from angels across the world—from strangers to family, customers, suppliers, friends—has left us completely speechless. It really does restore your faith in humanity.”
Carlos Campos (65) from Douglasdale, Johannesburg is not your average grandfather. Known to his family as “Abuelo Cazador” — the hunter grandpa — he’s an old-school tech wizard, a proud Spanish soul, and a Fallout-fan gamer who’s raised a generation of curious minds under his quiet, determined wing. Complete with a stubborn streak that turns every setback into “just another puzzle to solve” is a deeply empathetic soul who tears up at good news stories and never forgets a birthday call.
A former IT pioneer, Carlos helped usher South Africa into the digital age in the 1980s, solving server problems by day and teaching programming by night and helped businesses take their first steps into the digital world. Today, long after retirement, his legacy continues — by applying his problem-solving mind wherever he can and in bedtime science talks, Lego-building quests, and virtual adventures with his grandchildren.
“Abuelo Cazador” and His Legacy of Learning
Carlos’s son, Brynmor — affectionately known as Bryn — followed in his father’s digital footsteps and now works in information security.
“Dad showed me that every line of code has a story,” Bryn says. “He taught me how to think, problem-solve, and be curious. Even now, with limited mobility, he’s the calm co-pilot on every new adventure with my kids.”
Brynmor, or “Bryn” as he’s known, is Carlos’s son, protégé, and unapologetic geek-in-chief.
“Dad is the reason I work in information security today,” says Bryn. “He showed me that every line of code hides a story, and that every problem has a solution if you care enough to look.”
To his grandchildren, Carlos is their favorite teammate. Whether they’re building Minecraft castles or chasing down monsters in Fallout 76, his steady voice through a headset is their compass.
“It’s a broken world where people still choose hope,” Carlos says of his favourite game. “Sounds a lot like real life, eh?”
The family of six — Brynmor, his wife, their two kids, and Carlos and his wife — live under one roof, sharing not only space but every emotional and financial burden. One of their favourite memories is still the day Carlos booted up Fallout 76, handed each grandkid a controller, and said, “Let’s hunt scorched beasts!” They didn’t get very far, but the giggles echoed through the house for hours.
“Dad has always been the calm engine room of our family. Growing up, I remember midnight ‘science shows’ in the backyard — he’d lug out a telescope, point to Saturn’s rings, and explain why curiosity is our super-power. Now, as a grandpa, he’s the gentle co-pilot on every adventure my kids dream up. Whether they’re building Lego space stations or troubleshooting a Minecraft server, ‘Abuelo’ (their affectionate Spanish nickname for him) is the first call they make.”
But behind the joyful memories and glowing screens lies a mounting crisis. After surviving a heart attack, spending eight months on a ventilator following COVID-19, and now facing permanent oxygen dependence, Carlos and his family are battling overwhelming medical costs — and doing it all from the heart of their home, where three generations live under one roof.
Health Setbacks and Financial Strain
Carlos’s health struggles began in 2017 with a heart attack and valve replacement. In 2019, he nearly lost his life to COVID-19 and spent eight months in ICU. The virus left him bedridden, with seizure-induced paralysis on his left side. With time, he relearned to walk using aids — and with characteristic stubbornness, kept showing up for his family.
In early 2025, doctors diagnosed Carlos with a rare oxygen-blood disorder, leaving him permanently dependent on a home oxygen machine.
The emotional and financial burden on the family — including Carlos’s wife, Bryn, Bryn’s wife, and their two kids — has been immense. Between medical bills, oxygen rentals, and transport, the family has cancelled holidays, postponed celebrations, and drained their savings.
But the Campos family hasn’t lost hope.
Finding Help and Hope Through Community
On 29 May 2025, Bryn launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to help ease the pressure. The goal: R300,000 for Carlos’s ongoing needs — from a sleep apnea machine and updated gaming setup, to home safety equipment and a lightweight oxygen concentrator.
To date, the campaign has raised R95,700 from 84 donors, covering major expenses like a mobility scooter and modern gaming gear — allowing Carlos to finally go outdoors and rejoin family outings.
“Helping him through this fundraiser isn’t charity for me, it’s gratitude,” says Bryn. “It’s my chance to steady the shoulders that carried me.”
Carlos recently enjoyed his first family outing in years — a memory made possible through community support and the purchase of a mobility scooter of which has made a huge impact in the lives of the Campos family.
Should the campaign surpass its goal, the family plans to install grab rails and ramps, replace Carlos’s mattress with one that supports his posture, and build a small fund to manage future health emergencies.
“Every donation feels like a hand on our shoulder saying, ‘You’re not alone,’” Bryn shares.
Carlos puts it even more beautifully:
“I may need a machine to breathe, but every one of you is the air in that machine.”
To support Carlos, visit their BackaBuddy campaign link here:
Mandela Day, held on July 18th each year, encourages individuals to spend 67 minutes doing something positive in their communities. This initiative honours Nelson Mandela’s 67 years of public service, calling on all of us to do our part—whether it’s planting trees, donating blood, feeding the hungry, or supporting a meaningful cause.
In the spirit of Mandela Day 2025, we’d like to share a few heartfelt initiatives hosted on the BackaBuddy crowdfunding platform. Supporting these campaigns is a great way to do your bit this Mandela Day.
From placing senior dachshunds with elderly companions to running 67 kilometres for mental health awareness or feeding hungry children over the weekend, each initiative contributes to real change.
Save a Frosty Face for Mandela Day 2025
Cape Dachshund Rescue (CDR) is raising R40,000 this Mandela Day to cover one month of veterinary bills for 92 senior dachshunds in its care. Operating across the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and Southern Cape, the organisation runs a Frosty Face Foster programme, which matches elderly dachshunds with people between the ages of 60 and 80. Adoption fees are waived, and vet costs are fully covered, allowing for lifelong companionship without financial burden.
Each donation—especially in multiples of R67—helps ensure these senior pets continue to receive the care and love they deserve.
In Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, the team at Trulife is calling on the public to walk, run, or cycle 67 kilometres in July as part of the “We See You” Mandela Day Challenge. Their goal is to raise R6,700 per team to fund workshops and programmes that support learners navigating trauma, often without the tools or recognition they need.
So far, over R1,900 has been raised. Additional support will help expand Trulife’s reach, allowing them to provide critical life skills and mental health education across South Africa.
In the informal settlement of Promiseland in Palmridge, Gauteng, 47-year-old cleaner Nonkululeko “Nonny” Mda spends her weekends feeding up to 100 hungry children through her grassroots initiative, Ikhaya Lethu (Our Home). She started this mission in 2018 after witnessing the hardship children face when school meals aren’t available on weekends.
“Weekends are the hardest for children who rely on school meals. I can’t sit back and do nothing,” says Nonny. “I use my own income and rely on donations, even if it means I go without.”
Her campaign has already raised over R25,000 of its R60,000 goal, but continued support is essential to keep these children nourished every weekend.
In Bellville in the Western Cape, a team of MBA students from Stellenbosch University has launched a campaign in partnership with Goldilocks and the Bear, a nonprofit that provides free mental health screenings and early intervention for children in underserved areas.
“R670 covers the full journey for one child—screening, counselling, and referrals,” the students explain. “Mental health support should never be a luxury.”
Their goal is to raise R67,000 this Mandela Day so that more children can access the mental health care they need to thrive.
Have a cause close to your heart? You can start your own Mandela Day campaign on BackaBuddy and turn your passion into impact. Whether it’s a local clean-up, school supply drive, or a bigger community project, your 67 minutes can ripple far beyond the day itself.
