Kim Jones (43) from Table View, Cape Town is on a mission to help her 3-year-old, ‘beautiful and lively niece’, Holly Bright, find her voice.
Edgemead residents may recognise Holly sitting in her wheelchair, with her beautiful big eyes, and glowing red hair, but what many don’t know is that she was born with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder.
The condition, which affects the way the brain develops, causes a progressive loss of motor skills and speech, as well as regular seizures and breathing challenges. Holly’s case is quite severe.
Pictured above: Holly was born with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder.
“Despite having a lot to say, Holly is unable to get the words out. It breaks my heart when I see her face light up acknowledging my presence, but knowing that she can’t say hello, or worse is when you see the tears well up because she is frustrated or in pain, but can’t tell us where it hurts or how we can help.” says Kim.
Pictured above: Kim sits holding Holly and her sister, Lily, with Tammy and granny at the back.
Helping Holly
To help Holly communicate, she has in the past been able to stick pictures on a velcro-covered board and then point to what she wanted to say.
While this rudimentary device showed promising results, unfortunately, Holly’s body is weak and the connection between her brain and hands is compromised, so she is often unable to use her hands to have her say.
As a solution to this obstacle, Kim set out to raise funds on BackaBuddy to purchase an electronic PCEye device that uses Eye Gaze technology, estimated to cost over R26 000. With some training, Holly’s quality of life will increase dramatically and she will have a voice in this world.
Pictured above: A PCEye device will give Holly a voice in this world.
“Tammy and Nick, Holly’s parents, have devoted every spare cent they have to provide her with the best possible nutrition, therapies, and equipment to help her little body fight all it can, but this is a “luxury” not covered by any medical aid and is just beyond their savings.” – says Kim
Thankfully, with the help of 88 generous donors, Holly’s BackaBuddy campaign has raised over R36 000, enough to purchase the PCEye device. A laptop, as well as the brackets to brace the device on Holly’s wheelchair have also kindly been donated.
“As a family, we are completely blown away by the tremendous support our BackaBuddy campaign has received. We couldn’t be more thankful to each and every donor who has come forward to help change Holly’s life for the better”, says Kim.
If any additional funds are raised, they will be used to cover the cost of the speech therapy and training Holly will need to use the device effectively, as well as contribute towards Holly’s monthly medical expenses (in the region of R30 000 a month), that are not covered by the family’s medical aid.
“We all do our best to give Holly what she needs to blossom in life. No kind gesture is wasted”, says Kim.
A photo from a couple years ago: Tammy and Nick, with their daughters, Holly and Lily.
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.
On the 4th of June, the owner of Jowetts Cycles, Ingrid Flint (57) from Ashburton, Pietermaritzburg was involved in a horrific, near-fatal car accident when she crashed into an 18-wheeler truck head-on while traveling to Durban on the N3.
When the paramedics arrived on the scene, Ingrid was found unconscious and had to be sedated due to the severe head and back injuries she sustained. She was then taken to ICU at St. Annes Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
Learn more about Ingrid’s medical journey on her website here.
Ingrid’s car after her traumatic accident.
Ingrid has sadly passed away
Suffering brain damage and tremendous physical injuries, Ingrid Flint, sadly lost her life on 17 July 2021. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the Flint family.
It’s with a broken heart that we as a family want to let you know that my mom has passed away. She fought for 43 days like a soldier. I am so grateful to everyone who has stood with us and supported us.
We were able to give her the best shot at recovery as possible. Please can I ask for everyone to give us a little space to deal with this as a family. -says Ingrid’s son, Gary Flint posted on her WhatsAppgroup.
Thank you to the kind donors
A kind thank you to the generous donors, both locally and abroad, who raised over R90 000 for Ingrid’s medical treatment and recovery on BackaBuddy.
The Flint family has asked that Ingrid’s campaign be closed for any further 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 risen 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.
Eight years ago, Stan Engelbrecht (45) from Cape Town met Poppie van As (65), an elderly underprivileged lady who has a small roadside ‘roosterbrood’ stand on the N1 in Laingsburg.
“I happened to be cycling in Laingsburg around New Years about 8 years ago, and to be honest, the first thing that drew me to Poppie’s roadside stand was the wonderful aroma of her ‘roosterbrood’! I bought one – with jam and cheese if I remember correctly – and we had a chat. If you’ve ever met Poppie you’ll know that she is instantly likeable. Just full of great energy. Before I left town I returned to her stand and bought a few more plain ‘roosterbrood’, simply because they’re that delicious.”
A few months later Stan had the idea to ask Poppie to prepare some ‘roosterbrood’ for a bicycle race he was organising.
“She was a huge hit, preparing her ‘roosterbrood’ on a hill just outside of town near the end of that day’s racing stage! Everyone loved it, and so she was asked to return every year.” says Stan.
Pictured above: Poppie van As (63).
Touched by Poppie’s incredible life story and her bubbly personality, the Italian representatives at the Eroica South Africa event had invited her to Gaiole, Italy to attend the main Eroica event as a special guest, covering the cost of her plane ticket for the 3 day event.
“When I told her about the invitation to visit Italy in September, she ran around screaming at the top of her lungs as she has never left the Western Cape in her life. I knew that this was a dream-come-true for her, and this experience would change her life forever.” says Stan
Pictured above: Stan Engelbrecht (43) and Poppie van As (63).
To make the trip as special as possible, Stan and his girlfriend Donnet Dumas (32), decided to accompany Poppie on the trip to show her everything that Italy had to offer, and took her on a once in a lifetime road trip.
With a campaign launched on donations-based crowdfunding platform BackaBuddy, Stan appealed to the South African people to make small contributions to Poppie’s trip to make it unforgettable.
The campaign had received overwhelming support in a few short weeks, raising a total of R103 225.60 towards the fundraising target of R100 000 with contributions from 182 donors.
Pictured above: Poppie van As (63).
Donations to the crowdfunding campaign went towards Poppie’s visa appointment, travel to-and-from Cape Town, getting her a few things that will make her comfortable on her first airplane trip, and her first visit overseas.
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 R270 Million.
On Freedom Day, the 27th of April 2021, South African’s will celebrate 27 years of democracy. Inspired by the significance this day holds, Kola Cohen, a 19-year-old from Hout Bay, will be paddling 27km to provide 27,000 meals for vulnerable Capetonians.
Paddling on a prone board, Kola will be participating in the Freedom Paddle, an initiative where paddlers paddle from Cape Town to Robben Island (and back) to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela and the struggle heroes who fought for South Africa’s freedom.
Looking to pay it forward, Kola has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to support Love in a Bowl, a community farming initiative that delivers a ‘community pot’ of nutritious, organic food to 32 different creches, soup kitchens, and NGOs in the Hout Bay community.
Kola Cohen (Image credit: Jacque Smit)
“Although South Africa has a lot going for it, we still have some very deep systematic issues. A notable one is food security, as an athlete, I know that there is a direct relationship between nutrition and people’s ability to succeed. Love in a Bowl is playing their part by providing people with locally grown organic vegetables and I think there will be some great outcomes in the future.” – says Kola
With his ‘Paddle for Love’ campaign, Kola hopes to provide Love in a Bowl with enough funds to make 1000 community pots that will be able to serve 27 000 meals to those who need it the most.
In anticipation of his paddle, Kola has raised over R70 000 towards his fundraising target of R150 000 with contributions from 80 donors.
Cohen (Image credit: Jacque Smit)
Support Kola’s campaign on BackaBuddy 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 risen over R240 Million.
On the 18th of April 2021, a devastating vegetation fire quickly spread towards the University of Cape Town, destroying iconic landmarks, including Rhodes Memorial’s restaurant, Mostert Mill, the UCT library as well as residences and upper campus buildings.
Tasked with providing food and other essential items to over 4000 students that have been displaced and affected by the blaze, The Gift of the Givers have launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to assist the Cape Town community in rising from the ashes.
In less than 12 hours, generous donors both locally and internationally, have contributed over R64 000 towards their fundraising target of R250 000 to support their various relief efforts.
Gift of the Givers
With great joy, The Gift of the Givers team and volunteers in their numbers, have begun cooking, packaging and distributing meals door-to-door to help those in need.
“While the full extent of what is needed is currently being assessed, the requests for soap, toothpaste and personal hygiene items have been overwhelming”, says Dr Imtiaz Sooliman – Founder of The Gift of the Givers
Gift the Givers
How you can help.
Make a donation to the Gift of the Givers on BackaBuddy by donating here:
Pictured above: Holly was born with Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic neurological and developmental disorder.
Pictured above: Kim sits holding Holly and her sister, Lily, with Tammy and granny at the back.
Pictured above: A PCEye device will give Holly a voice in this world.
A photo from a couple years ago: Tammy and Nick, with their daughters, Holly and Lily.
Ingrid’s car after her traumatic accident.
The late Ingrid Flint outside her bicycle shop.
