In the heart of Kensington, Cape Town, a single mother’s determination and an unshakable dream are the forces behind a campaign that BackaBuddy holds close. Nicole Nicci Arrison, a Systems analyst, BackaBuddy team member, side-hustling snack box queen, social media boff and hands-on mom (Yes, we also started sweating), has set her heart on giving her daughter a sixteenth birthday gift rooted in love, culture, and family: a trip to Sicily.
Nicci doesn’t just juggle life — she flips it, spins it, and somehow makes it look effortless. She’s the kind of mom who you’d think has superpowers with the amount she juggles. And when she sets her heart on something — like tracing her family’s Sicilian roots with her daughter, Qiran — nothing is going to stand in her way. The two share an incredibly close bond, rooted in deep trust and mutual respect.
“There’s a mutual respect between us, and we’ve created a space where she can speak openly and trust that she’ll be heard without judgment. We’ve always been a team,” says Nicci. “Some of our most treasured moments are our daily car rides — that’s our 20-minute pocket of uninterrupted connection, full of deep chats or bursts of laughter.”
Qiran, now approaching sixteen, has always shown remarkable emotional maturity. Nicci recalls a moment she’ll never forget: after her father passed away, young Qiran wrapped her arms around her mom, held her quietly, and then softly said, “It’s going to be okay.”
“She has this quiet emotional intelligence that’s always been there. She makes me proud daily, in ways big and small,” Nicci says.
Another memory that speaks volumes: Even though Qiran’s team had just lost a sports match, she ran straight to the teacher of the winning team and gave her a hug to congratulate her.
“That’s just who she is — gracious, thoughtful, and humble. “Says Nicci
A Journey of Heritage and Heart
Family is everything to Nicci — and those roots run deep. At the centre is her grandmother, Ma Joyce, Qiran’s great-grandmother and the family matriarch, known for her legendary lasagna and unforgettable stories.
She’s the one who passed down not just a legendary lasagna recipe, but a legacy of culture, connection, and Sicilian heritage.
“My grandmother, Ma Joyce, is Qiran’s great-grandmother and the heart of our family. Her maiden name is Gamba, and she’s passed down both our lasagna recipe and two very different origin stories.
The more believable version is that the Gambas came to South Africa as missionaries — a legacy that lives on in our family today, with one of my uncles serving as an Anglican priest. But when she’s feeling playfully annoyed with us, Ma Joyce will claim that ‘Gamba’ is short for Gambino — and we can’t help but laugh. We don’t quite believe that one, but the stories, like the recipes, are part of our family’s beautiful and layered history.” – Nicci shares
For Nicci, the kitchen has always been a sacred space of connection for her and her family.
“Growing up, the kitchen was the heart of our family — it’s where everyone connected. If you were in the kitchen, you were either helping prep or waiting to lick the spoon, LOL.”
Like the kitchen, food has always been a way for the family to connect and be reminded of their Sicilian roots.
“For us, food — especially Ma Joyce’s lasagna — has always been more than just a meal. It’s part of every birthday, every family gathering, every moment that matters. If you asked me what it tastes like, I’d say it tastes like first love — but the kind that wraps you in warmth and never really leaves you.”
The family believes their roots trace back to Palermo, and now Nicci wants to take her daughter on a journey that will once again bring their heritage to life.
For Nicci, this trip is more than a holiday. It’s a tribute, a legacy, and a love letter — from mother to daughter, to the place where it all began.
“This trip is meaningful because it’s more than a birthday celebration — it’s a moment for her to connect with where our family comes from. It’s about giving her the gift of experience, culture, and family roots — something she’ll remember forever.”
The mother-daughter duo picture wandering through the bustling Ballarò Market, spinning under the ancient arches of the Cattedrale di Palermo, and tossing coins into the Fontana Pretoria. And through each experience, feeling a long-lost tug from the cobbled streets and vibrant Sicilian culture of their roots — maybe even spotting a cousin with those signature mischievous eyebrows.
This trip has been a long-time dream for Qiran and Nicci, and now — thanks to a crowdfunding platform Nicci contributes to daily(and is the go-to for tech queries that could stump a rocket scientist) — it’s finally starting to feel like a possibility.
A Campaign Close to Home
In May 2025, Nicci launched her campaign: Qiran’s Super Sweet Sicilian Sixteenth, hoping to raise R65,000 to cover flights, accommodation, visas, travel insurance, and — of course — some pasta and gelato along the way.
So far, 17 donors have contributed over R2,000. It may seem like a modest start, but for Nicci, each donation is a message of support and belief.
“We’ve been so moved by the support,” she says. “A friend even offered her massage services for our fundraiser — no questions asked. It’s things like that that remind me just how kind people can be.”
Even Qiran, who usually avoids the spotlight, had something heartfelt to share:
“I feel happy and surprised — honestly, I feel lucky. Thank you to everyone who’s helping, even if you don’t know me. I really hope this trip happens. I saw a message saying my mommy is working really hard to make it possible. I hope it works out — for both of us.”
Nine-year-old Amogelang Kgobe Matloga from Pretoria is facing a heartbreaking relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), just months after completing his initial treatment. Yet in the face of this devastating diagnosis, it is his quiet courage and unshakable faith that have moved hearts across the country—sparking a wave of generosity as global donors rally to support his family through an online crowdfunding campaign.
Originally from the small village of Botlokwa in Polokwane, Amo is a quiet, gentle soul with a love for soccer and a deep connection to his faith.
“He likes being in charge and in control of things,” says his mother, Annah. “He really has a strong personality and a strong spirit. As young as he is, his faith is so unshakable—it amazes me every day.”
Since his initial diagnosis in August 2024, Amo has shown resilience beyond his years. While treatment has brought many challenges, he finds comfort in his family—especially his older brother (13) and younger brother (5)—and joy in the simple moments, like outings for ice cream or time together at church.
“We are the most close-knit family one could ever ask for,” Annah says. “There is nothing we love more than spending time together, especially in the house of the Lord.”
But their lives changed dramatically when Amo relapsed in May 2025. The family’s only hope now lies in a bone marrow transplant—with his father currently identified as a 50% match. While this brings some comfort, the financial strain has grown heavier since his father lost his job in March, making it difficult to afford the ongoing hospital visits, tests, and medications.
Determined to help her son get the life-saving care he needs, Annah launched a heartfelt campaign on BackaBuddy on 19 June 2025 to raise funds for his transplant.
“After receiving news of him relapsing, my world turned upside down,” she shares. “But then I remembered who my life redeemer is—the one who created Heaven and Earth.”
Her words on the campaign page echo the strength and hope that carry their family forward:
“We humbly ask for your generosity. Your contribution, no matter the size, can make a profound difference in his fight against cancer.”
So far, the campaign has raised over R51,000 towards their R250,000 goal, with support pouring in from 176 generous donors. Every donation, every message of encouragement has helped restore the family’s hope.
“To everyone who has supported us, we will forever be grateful,” Annah says. “Your generosity really means so much to us—and to our beautiful Amogelang too.”
Thanks to this growing circle of support, the Kgobe Matloga family no longer feels alone in their fight. “May you never lack, may your pocket never run dry,” Annah says. “Your support has been greatly appreciated.”
Amogelang’s story also highlights the critical need for more registered bone marrow donors in South Africa. Finding a matching donor can mean the difference between life and death for patients like Amo.
The South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) encourages the public to join their registry and give someone in need a second chance at life. Learn more or register today at www.sabmr.co.za.
If you would like to start a campaign on BackaBuddy to support a loved one or cause close to your heart, Annah shares these words of encouragement:
“We are so grateful for this platform. It gives us hope every day that we will reach our destination and find the helpers we need.”
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa – On Sunday, 8 June 2025, Graham Wells will run his 8th Comrades Marathon — barefoot — to raise vital funds for the PMB Homeless Network (PMBHN). His mission? To raise R60,000 to provide 2,000 warm meals for those without food or shelter this winter in Pietermaritzburg.
The 2025 Comrades Marathon, covering 89.98 kilometres (55.95 miles) from Pietermaritzburg City Hall to Durban’s People’s Park, is a test of endurance — but for Graham, it’s also a powerful act of empathy.
“Running barefoot puts me, even briefly, in the shoes of those who don’t have any,” says Graham. “It’s uncomfortable, painful even, but it’s a reminder — every single step — of why I’m doing this. For those who walk the streets every day, cold and unseen.”
As of 28 May, Graham has raised R6,288 from 13 donors through his BackaBuddy campaign, Run for a Roof 2025. Each meal costs just R30, and the team’s aim is to serve 2,000 meals as a first step toward long-term support.
“We all understand the comfort of a warm meal,” says Graham. “This isn’t just about feeding hunger — it’s about restoring hope and dignity.”
Graham, who is 48 years old and currently based in the UK, began his charity running journey in 2009 at the New York Marathon. Since 2016, he has completed multiple Comrades Marathons for charity, running barefoot each year — except in 2019, when he ran in shoes to raise funds for Niqi During, a young woman living with cystic fibrosis, and in 2020, when he did not run due to injury, despite the race going virtual that year. In 2021, fully recovered, he completed a solo barefoot virtual Comrades from Mooi River to Pietermaritzburg, continuing his commitment to making a difference for others.
This year’s campaign builds on Graham’s long-running support of the PMB Homeless Network, the first initiative of its kind in the region. After years of fundraising to restore the city’s first permanent homeless shelter, he is now focused on the next critical step: making sure no one inside goes to bed hungry.
The PMB Homeless Network doesn’t just offer shelter — it provides a pathway out of homelessness. Through structured rehabilitation, reintegration, and community building, the network aims to rebuild lives from the ground up.
“We strive to build more than a shelter,” says the PMBHN team. “We aim to reconstruct lives, empower individuals, and shape a community where everyone has a place to call home.”
With the shelter now near completion and a vegetable garden already established, Graham’s 2025 goal is to help launch a feeding scheme that will supply 2,000 nourishing meals — meals that mean survival, but also dignity and care.
One moment that continues to inspire Graham came during a World Homeless Day outreach in 2022:
“A man — weak from low blood sugar — clung to a sealed ice cream like it was all he had,” he recalls. “I was simply trying to help him sit up more comfortably, but even then, he instinctively pulled it back. It showed me just how much trust is lost when someone’s lived on the edge for too long. That moment has stayed with me.”
Despite the physical toll, Graham returns to the road — barefoot — year after year.
“I’ve told myself many times I wouldn’t run barefoot again. But then I see the impact — the awareness, the donations, the people it touches. That’s why I keep going — until we’re no longer needed.”
Donations of any amount are welcome. Supporters wishing to make a tax-deductible contribution can request a Section 18A certificate by emailing [email protected]. For those who cannot donate, Graham asks only that they help by sharing the campaign.
“You don’t need money to make a difference. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way in someone’s life.”
In the heart of Franschhoek, surrounded by vineyards and dreams, a wedding and events coordinator, Eldorét Visser (38), was living what seemed to be a fairy-tale life. Newly married and mother to a beautiful baby girl named Olivia (19 months), she was juggling the demands of motherhood and a thriving career at Rickety Bridge Wine Estate, until life took an unimaginable turn.
In August 2024, just weeks before Olivia’s first birthday, Eldorét discovered a lump in her left breast. “I thought it was a clogged milk duct from breastfeeding,” she shared. But her father, Joe Breytenbach (79), an orthopaedic surgeon, urged her to get it checked. What followed was a whirlwind of tests, biopsies, and devastating news.
Pictured above:Eldorét Visser with her husband, Jaandri, and their beautiful baby girl, Olivia
“On 16 September 2024, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. I remember sitting in the doctor’s chair, clutching my husband Jaandri’s (30) hand, unable to stop the tears. It felt so unfair.”
While raising a toddler and planning weddings for other families, Eldorét quietly endured months of aggressive chemotherapy, first one session every three weeks for four months, followed by weekly sessions for 12 weeks. “Each session came with nausea, exhaustion, mouth sores, and an immune system that couldn’t keep up. But there’s no chance to rest with an 18-month-old at your feet.”
As if fate hadn’t dealt a heavy enough blow, her father was diagnosed with colon cancer midway through her treatment. Genetic testing, an R8,000 cost not covered by medical aid, confirmed a high likelihood of recurrence. The news prompted Eldorét to make a gut-wrenching but lifesaving decision: a double mastectomy with advanced reconstructive surgery.
The surgery, a 9 to 12-hour oncoplastic procedure, was performed on 5 May 2025. “I was incredibly anxious leading up to it. They removed the tumour, drained lymph nodes, harvested fat cells from my abdomen, and reconstructed my breasts. I spent three days in ICU battling nausea, low blood pressure, and fainting spells. But I pulled through.”
Pictured above:Eldorét with her mum, Madi Breytenbach
She was discharged on day six. Movement remained restricted, and she could no longer lift Olivia or drive. Her parents stayed to help with school runs and house chores. On 21 May, doctors confirmed: “All the wounds are healing. There’s no evidence of cancer. I’m well on the road to recovery.”
Eldorét’s physical transformation was only part of the battle. “Cancer is as much in your head as it is in your body. I started antidepressants and leaned on loved ones. Losing my hair was one of the hardest parts, it felt like losing part of my identity. I wore a wig to work because no bride wants to see a sick wedding coordinator.”
Through it all, she remained anchored by her faith, her husband, and her daughter. “I waited 38 years for a baby, and Olivia is our greatest joy. Spending time with her kept me focused.”
Still, the cost of survival was staggering, over R500,000. Her upgraded medical aid covered just 15%. In desperation, a friend named Chantelle White (40) encouraged her to launch a campaign on BackaBuddy. “I was too proud to ask for help. But Chantelle said, ‘You’ll be supported.’ And she was right. I wept with every notification. The funds enabled me to pay my surgeon and go for surgery. I was blown away.”
Pictured above:Eldorét holding baby Olivia wears her wig with quiet strength after bravely losing her hair.
With the help of 86 incredible donors, Eldorét’s campaign raised over R79,000, exceeding her R70,000 goal.
To those who contributed, Eldorét says:
“Thank you seems like such an insignificant word to express my gratitude, you have changed my life and given me more time with my daughter. For that, I cannot thank you enough.”
Looking ahead, Eldorét hopes to use her experience to raise awareness around breast health. “God carried me through this. I can’t wait to see what the future holds. I want my story to bring hope to others who are still fighting.”
Thanks to the generosity of strangers, the support of her family, and her own unyielding courage, Eldorét has defied the odds, and is now cancer-free, embracing a future she once feared she wouldn’t see.
“I believe I’m destined to be the best Mom, wife, and woman I can be, and now, I finally have the chance to be her.”
Buhle Dlamini (38) from Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, is a devoted mother of four-year-old twins and a hardworking domestic worker who has spent years caring for others. But after being diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer in February, she now faces her own fight—for her life and her children’s future.
A Mother’s Love, a Daily Fight
For Buhle, the struggle is not just physical—it’s deeply emotional. She now lives with constant discomfort, abnormal bleeding, and pain that sometimes makes it hard to walk. But she continues to work and care for her children, keeping much of her suffering to herself.
“I cry at night when no one can hear me,” she says softly. “I can handle the pain, but I can’t bear the thought of not seeing my children grow up. What will happen to them if I’m not here?”
Her twins, Ayabonga and Asbongi, are her whole world. Their laughter, their school songs, and even their sibling squabbles bring her pride.
“When they tell me about their friends or sing songs from school, I feel so proud,” she says. “Even when they’re naughty, I smile—it means they’re strong and happy.”
Despite her diagnosis, Buhle still gets up every morning to work. “I don’t have a choice,” she explains. “We’re a poor family. I need to keep going—for them.”
The Friend Who Stepped In
For the past five years, Buhle has worked for Trek Scale and in the home of Sherees Dalton, who has come to know Buhle not just as an employee, but as family.
“She’s become a sister—the sister I never had,” says Sherees. “We share our lives. We trust each other. When she told me what she was going through, I knew I couldn’t just stand by.”
With Buhle’s father also battling blood cancer, and little family support around her, the emotional and financial weight has been immense. “She carries so much on her own,” says Sherees. “And if Buhle isn’t here, her twins will be orphaned. That’s the reality.”
Wanting to do more than offer words, Sherees turned to action. She launched a BackaBuddy campaign—Miracles for Buhle—to raise R60,000 for the urgent medical treatment, surgery, and transport costs Buhle needs to start her recovery.
“She’s one of the most hardworking, honest people I’ve ever met,” Sherees says. “She works multiple jobs without complaint. But this isn’t something she can do alone—she needs a community to carry her now.”
A Life-Saving Campaign
Before any treatment can begin, Buhle needs a cone biopsy to determine how far the cancer has spread. From there, she may need a hysterectomy and further specialized care. But until the funds are raised, her journey is on hold.
So far, just over R3,000 has been raised from 16 generous donors. And while in need of further support, the messages and small acts of kindness are already making a difference.
“To the people who have donated—even R20—you’ve made me feel like I’m not alone,” says Buhle. “I can’t find the words to thank you.”
Her wish is simple: “I just want to live long enough to raise my children. That’s all I want. That’s what I’m fighting for.”
To support Buhle, visit her BackaBuddy campaign link here:
In 2021, JJ Ritter’s life changed forever when he was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare and debilitating neurological condition often referred to as the “Suicide Disease” due to the unrelenting, excruciating pain it causes. According to the McGill Pain Index, CRPS ranks among the highest recorded pain levels—more intense than amputation or natural childbirth—with no known cure and limited treatment options. And yet, despite its severity, the condition is still often overlooked or dismissed, even within medical circles.
This lack of recognition adds a heavy emotional toll to an already devastating diagnosis. Many CRPS warriors, like JJ, find themselves isolated and misunderstood, navigating not only constant physical agony but also the emotional grief of losing the life they once knew. But in the midst of the pain and uncertainty, JJ chose to fight back—not just for himself, but for others.
At the six-month mark after his diagnosis, JJ’s spine specialist told him something that stuck with him: “The greatest defence or treatment against CRPS is knowledge.” That truth became JJ’s guiding light. As he learned more about his condition, its triggers, and how to live with it, he began to write. Not to escape the pain, but to give it a voice.
That voice became a book: Hope Undivided – Memoirs of an Ordinary Man Living with a Not So Ordinary Disease. It’s a raw, heartfelt account of JJ’s journey through suffering, resilience, and healing. It’s also a powerful tool for raising awareness about CRPS and invisible illnesses—particularly among those who feel unseen and unheard.
To bring this book to life, JJ has created a campaign on BackaBuddy with the goal of raising R50,000. The funds will support:
Publishing and printing costs: including professional editing, cover design, layout, ISBN registration, and the initial print run
CRPS awareness initiatives: tied to the book’s launch, including educational talks and outreach
Translation and accessibility efforts: including audio versions for people living with disabilities
Book distribution: to hospitals, doctors, and individuals who need it most
Supporting his family: allowing JJ to remain present and mobile for his wife and two sons—his greatest reason to keep going
With the help of 6 generous donors, JJ has already raised over R5,000 toward his goal.
JJ’s dream is simple: to reach those who feel invisible. To let fellow warriors and their loved ones know they’re not alone. And to challenge the way society views chronic illness, masculinity, and pain. Through Hope Undivided, JJ wants to shift the narrative—from silence and stigma to truth, resilience, and hope.
“Having gone through what I have so far on this journey has taught me a lot—about what to expect, what to try, what to avoid, what to do, and what not to do. This is the kind of knowledge that saved me, and it’s the kind of knowledge I want to share.”– JJ Ritter
JJ plans to launch Hope Undivided this November in honour of CRPS Awareness Month.
If his story resonates with you—whether you’ve battled chronic pain, supported someone who has, or simply believe in the power of storytelling—you’re invited to be part of this journey.
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