by Tessa Van Rensberg | Nov 6, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — Cape Town runner Luke Barnwell is preparing to take on the 2027 London Marathon while raising funds for British Home, a UK charity that provides specialist nursing care, rehabilitation and support to adults living with neuro-disabilities.
Barnwell has secured a charity place for the April 2027 race and has set a fundraising target of £2,000, approximately R45,000, with all funds going towards British Home’s work.
A BackaBuddy campaign launched in support of the run has already raised R3,020 from three donors within its first two hours.
Barnwell is clear that the fundraiser is not intended to cover his flights, accommodation or personal travel costs. The full campaign is dedicated to supporting British Home.
From Cape Town to London
For Barnwell, the London Marathon will be one of the biggest physical challenges he has taken on.
The 42.2km race will require months of training in Cape Town, with Barnwell planning to share the journey as he builds towards race day.
That will include early mornings, training runs, races, setbacks and the progression that comes with preparing for a marathon.
But the run itself is only part of the goal.
“My biggest goal is to raise £2,000 for British Home and help support the people in their care,” Barnwell says.
British Home supports adults whose lives have been affected by brain injuries, strokes and other neurological conditions. Its work includes personalised nursing care, rehabilitation and support aimed at helping people live as independently as possible.
For Barnwell, that work is what gives the marathon a wider purpose.
Running for More Than a Finish Line
A serious neurological injury or illness can affect far more than physical health. It can also change a person’s independence, relationships and ability to manage everyday life.
British Home works with adults living through those changes, providing care and rehabilitation tailored to individual needs.
Barnwell says he is proud to use the London Marathon as a way to support that work while also raising awareness around the realities faced by people living with neuro-disabilities.
“This challenge is about more than crossing a finish line,” he says.
The campaign has already received its first donations, including contributions of R3,000 in total within hours of going live.
With several months of training still ahead, Barnwell hopes the fundraiser will grow alongside his preparation for London.
Every Kilometre Counts
The London Marathon takes place in April 2027, giving Barnwell time to build towards the physical challenge while also working towards his fundraising target.
He is encouraging supporters to contribute whatever they can, whether that is R50, R100 or more.
For those unable to donate, sharing the campaign is another way to help the fundraiser reach more people.
For Barnwell, the months ahead will be measured in kilometres, training sessions and progress towards his goal.
The bigger aim, however, is simple: to make each kilometre count towards supporting the people in British Home’s care.
To support Luke Barnwell’s London Marathon fundraiser for British Home, visit the BackaBuddy campaign.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Nov 6, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — For nearly 40 years, Ikhaya Labantu Care Home in Langa has provided a home for older people who need daily care, support and a safe place to live.
Founded in 1986, the home currently cares for 34 residents aged 60 and older, many of whom are frail, disabled or living with long-term illness.
Some residents have families who are unable to provide full-time care because of work, financial pressure or homes that are not suitable for their physical needs. Others have no family support at all.
Ikhaya Labantu has now launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign with a R20,000 goal to help cover the everyday costs of running the home.
The campaign has received its first R200 donation since launching.
According to the organisation, it receives no government funding and relies on donations from individuals, churches, businesses and other supporters to cover food, salaries, electricity, gas, medication and other essential expenses.
34 Residents, 26 Staff and Round-the-Clock Care
Ikhaya Labantu means “home of the people”, a name that reflects the role the organisation has played in the Langa community since the 1980s.
The home employs 26 staff members, most of them caregivers, who work across four teams to provide support around the clock.
Their work includes helping residents bathe and eat, changing nappies, administering medication and assisting people who may need care during the night.
For residents who can no longer live independently, that support allows them to remain in a stable environment while still being part of a community.
The organisation says residents are not simply provided with accommodation, but with daily care, companionship and dignity.
The Everyday Costs of Running a Care Home
The campaign is focused on the practical items needed to keep the home operating.
Donations can help cover food including fruit, vegetables, oil, sugar, tea and coffee, as well as nappies, toilet paper, laundry products and cleaning supplies.
The home also needs items such as mattresses, bedding, beds, chairs, cupboards, wheelchairs and kitchen appliances.
One of its longer-term goals is to install solar panels to help reduce electricity costs.
The organisation has also provided a simple breakdown of what different donations can cover.
According to the campaign, R140 can buy a pack of 10 nappies, R220 can cover one resident’s food and care for a day, while approximately R6,800 can support one resident for a month.
For Ikhaya Labantu, these figures show how quickly the everyday costs of caring for 34 people add up.
Keeping a Long-Standing Community Home Going
The organisation says running the home without government funding remains one of its biggest challenges.
Every month, it has to raise enough money to cover both the direct needs of residents and the salaries of the caregivers who look after them.
The BackaBuddy campaign is intended to strengthen that support and help ensure the home can continue meeting residents’ daily needs.
Ikhaya Labantu is a registered non-profit organisation, NPO 024-968, and Public Benefit Organisation, PBO 930051234. According to the campaign, South African donors can receive Section 18A tax certificates for eligible donations.
The home also encourages people in Cape Town to visit, meet residents and see how contributions are used.
For Ikhaya Labantu, the appeal is ultimately about continuity: keeping a place that has served older people in Langa for almost four decades open, stable and able to provide care.
To support Ikhaya Labantu Care Home, visit the BackaBuddy campaign.
by Tessa Van Rensberg | Nov 6, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — A Cape Town hospitality community has rallied around chef John Chavula after he suffered a sudden stroke, raising more than R42,000 in two days to help with his medical care and support his family during his recovery.
A BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign launched by James Williams has raised R42,714 from 62 donors, reaching 64% of its R67,000 goal.
John has worked alongside friends and colleagues in Cape Town’s hospitality industry since 2019 and is described by those close to him as a talented chef and a generous, dependable member of the team.
The fundraising effort will continue this weekend when Emma, James and Alex take on the Mandela Marathon in his honour. The team behind the campaign has also committed to matching money raised rand for rand, up to R67,000, increasing the potential impact of every public donation.
Part of the Team From the Beginning
John first became part of James Williams’ working life in 2019, when the two worked together at Unfiltered on Kloof Street.
When Aperitif was being established in 2023, John became its first employee.
He was there before the restaurant opened its doors, helping to paint the walls that would later become part of the team’s everyday working life.
Over the years, John has become a trusted member of the kitchen and someone who has built strong relationships with the people around him.
“Before he was a valued member of our kitchen team and a talented chef, he is an extraordinary human being,” the campaign states. “He has given so much of himself to the people and places around him.”
For those who know John, the fundraiser is about supporting someone who has consistently shown up for others.
Support After a Sudden Health Emergency
John recently suffered a stroke, creating an unexpected need for medical care and financial support.
The campaign does not provide further details about the severity of the stroke, his treatment or his prognosis, and his friends have kept the focus on supporting John and his family as his recovery continues.
The R67,000 target is intended to contribute towards his medical care and help ease some of the financial pressure facing the family while his needs become clearer.
Within just two days of the campaign going live, 62 donors had contributed R42,714.
That response has taken the fundraiser close to two-thirds of its target.
Running for John
Support for John is also moving beyond the campaign page.
Emma, James and Alex will run the Mandela Marathon in his honour this weekend, using the event to rally further support around John and his family.
The team has also pledged to match funds raised rand for rand, up to R67,000.
For John’s friends and colleagues, the decision to support him is personal.
He has been part of their working lives for years, helping build the teams and spaces they have shared. Now, as he faces an unexpected health challenge, they are doing what they can to stand beside him.
With R42,714 already raised, the campaign is less than R25,000 away from its public fundraising target.
To support John Chavula, visit the BackaBuddy campaign.
by Simbulele Jezile | Oct 14, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — A young footballer from Bonteheuwel who previously received community support to compete at a Johannesburg tournament has reached another fundraising milestone, with 27 donors contributing more than R22,000 towards his next opportunity on the football field.
Reece’s latest BackaBuddy campaign has raised R23,000 of its R20,000 target with a month still remaining.
The campaign was launched after Reece was offered another opportunity to travel and compete in a tournament where football scouts are expected to be present.
For those who supported him before, it is also a chance to see what happened after their first contribution.
A Second Opportunity After the Community Helped Him Once Before
Reece’s first fundraising campaign was created after the young Bonteheuwel footballer earned an opportunity to travel to Johannesburg for a tournament.
At the time, the campaign described the trip as an opportunity for Reece to compete in front of football scouts while continuing to work towards his ambition of playing professionally. The earlier fundraiser recorded R16,425 in online donations and R6,000 in offline support.
According to the current campaign, that support helped make the trip possible.
Now, Reece has another opportunity to travel and compete, and the financial barrier that could have prevented him from taking part has once again been met by supporters.
Within 20 days, 22 donors contributed R22,344, pushing the new campaign beyond its original goal.
From Bonteheuwel to Another Shot at Being Seen
Reece is described by campaign organiser Andie Steele-Smith as a committed young footballer who has continued developing his game since his previous fundraising campaign.
The latest opportunity could again place him in an environment where scouts are watching, although the campaign does not name the tournament or guarantee that participation will lead to professional selection.
What it does provide is an opportunity for Reece to compete, gain exposure and continue pursuing the path he has been working towards.
For a young player whose access to these opportunities is limited by the cost of travel and participation, reaching the fundraising target means finances are less likely to be the reason he misses out.
Supporters Return for the Next Chapter
The latest donations include contributions from South Africa and abroad, with messages encouraging Reece to keep pursuing his football ambitions.
The campaign has now moved beyond its R20,000 goal, but with a month remaining, supporters can continue following Reece’s progress as he prepares for the tournament.
His story also shows what longer-term community support can look like.
The first campaign was not the end of the story. It helped Reece take one opportunity. A year later, when another opportunity came, people were willing to back him again.
For Reece, the next step is now about what he can do with the chance he has been given.
To support Raise Funding for Reece, visit the campaign page.
by Simbulele Jezile | Sep 2, 2026 | Press Release
Cape Town, South Africa — Gugulethu photographer and videographer Luvuyo Wogqoyi, whose work has captured South African artists, brands and township creative culture, is raising R100,000 for dialysis and medical support after Stage 5 kidney failure and related heart complications forced him to stop working.
According to Wogqoyi, doctors have told him that his heart is currently too weak for him to qualify for a kidney transplant, leaving ongoing dialysis central to his care. He says he now faces losing access to hospital-based chronic dialysis and needs to secure medical aid, treatment and transport to continue receiving the care he needs.
At the centre of his appeal is his six-year-old daughter.
“I am asking for a chance to live for the sake of my six-year-old daughter who needs her father,” Wogqoyi says.
His Save a Life BackaBuddy campaign has raised over R63 000 toward its R100 000 goal, with 239 donors responding to his appeal.
The Man Behind the Camera
Support this campaign: View Save a Life and share this story with your community.
Before illness interrupted his career, Wogqoyi built his life around telling other people’s stories through images.
His professional portfolio describes him as a Cape Town photographer, videographer and video editor with years of experience in visual storytelling, including work connected to brands such as Capitec and Sportscene.
His photographs have also appeared in national media coverage of Cape Town’s music scene, including images of gqom artist Mr Thela.
But Wogqoyi’s connection to photography stretches further back.
More than a decade ago, he was named among the photographers involved with Ikasi Instawalk, a collective that used photography and visual art to showcase township creativity and bring exhibitions directly into local communities.
For years, his work meant faces, movement, laughter and people standing in front of his lens.
Now, he says, illness has taken that away.
“I miss seeing all those smiles, laughter and poses from my clients,” he shares. “Unfortunately, I had to stop working when I became sick.”
When Kidney Failure Made Dialysis Essential
Stage 5 kidney failure means the kidneys have lost most of their ability to remove waste and excess fluid from the body, making dialysis or transplantation necessary for many patients.
For Wogqoyi, the situation has become more complicated because he says his kidney disease has also affected his heart.
According to his campaign, doctors have told him that the weakness of his heart means he is no longer considered eligible for a kidney transplant.
That has placed enormous importance on continued dialysis.
South Africa has long faced severe pressure on public-sector chronic dialysis services. Research into the country’s kidney replacement system has found that access is heavily rationed because the number of people requiring long-term dialysis exceeds available resources.
In the Western Cape public health system, transplant eligibility has historically played an important role in deciding which patients can be accepted into chronic dialysis programmes.
For Wogqoyi, that wider healthcare reality has become intensely personal.
He says he now needs to find a way to fund medical aid and the transport required to access dialysis privately or through available medical cover.
Without his photography income, those costs have become impossible to carry alone.
‘If Not for Me, Please Do It for My Daughter’
Wogqoyi’s campaign does not focus on what he has lost as much as what he still hopes to hold onto.
His daughter is six.
He wants to be present for the school years, birthdays and ordinary moments still ahead of her.
He also hopes that improving his health could eventually allow him to return to the work that gave him purpose.
“I believe I can still make a difference in the world with my photography skills,” he says.
It is that combination — a father wanting more time with his child and a creative professional wanting the chance to work again — that has resonated with donors.
Within 48 hours, 138 people helped raise more than R36,000.
The contributions are creating a financial bridge towards dialysis, medical aid and transport at a time when Wogqoyi cannot generate the income he once did behind the camera.
“Any amount will make a difference,” he says. “The little you can give will help me live longer to see my lovely daughter grow up.”
His appeal becomes even more direct in its final line:
“If not for me, please do it for my daughter.”
From Documenting Lives to Asking Others to Help Save His
There is a painful reversal in Wogqoyi’s story.
For years, he was the person behind the camera, documenting other people’s milestones, careers and creative work.
His photographs became part of the record of Cape Town’s cultural scene.
Today, he is the one whose story needs to be seen.
His R100,000 campaign will help him meet the costs associated with remaining on dialysis, maintaining medical cover and travelling to receive treatment while he is unable to work.
More than a third of that target has already been raised.
But the need continues.
For Wogqoyi, the fundraiser is not about returning immediately to the shoots and clients he misses.
First, it is about staying well enough to be there for his daughter.
Then, he hopes, the camera can come out again.
Support this campaign: Support Save a Life on BackaBuddy.
How Dialysis Support Can Help
Community support can help Luvuyo access ongoing dialysis, medical aid and transport while he works towards a healthier future for his daughter.
