Liesl didn’t want to ask for help, but the moment she did, South Africans rallied with a level of compassion that reminds us who we truly are.
South Africa (16 November 2025) – It’s one thing to face your own battles… it’s another to face them all over again while fighting for someone you love. That’s the reality for Liesl Carter (née de Bruin), who reached out with humility and honesty. And whose courage has sparked a wave of compassion.
Liesl is no stranger to bravery and perseverance, continuing to fight even when the outcome is uncertain. She’s walked her own road with breast cancer, not once, but twice, and she’s still healing from her second breast ablation. She’s also a good friend to Good Things Guy, someone who has spent years celebrating the kindness of others. But today, the kindness she usually shares outward is being reflected back at her.
When she reached out, she didn’t ask for a headline or a feature or a big moment.
“To be honest, I really don’t expect an article or an official post regarding this. I know there are so many more people out there who need your official platform far more,” Liesl explained.
But sometimes, telling someone’s story is the kindest thing you can do, especially when it carries a family who is holding on with everything they’ve got.
“Here we are… Twice diagnosed with breast cancer, and just healing from my second breast ablation, we’ve been smacked in the face with the news that my dad has stage 4 throat cancer.”
“It isn’t like this happened overnight.”
A year and a half ago, Liesl’s dad did what anyone would do: he visited an ENT after feeling a strange “knob” in his throat. What followed was a difficult, expensive cycle of misdiagnosis: tonsil surgery, repeated visits, antibiotics, sprays, more bills, more worry and still no clear answer.
“Eventually, he went for another doctor’s visit and was immediately sent for a biopsy. We got the bad news that it was in fact cancerous. We were hoping that the disease had not spread… A CT scan showed otherwise,” Liesl told us.
And suddenly, everything changed.
“Anyway, here we find ourselves… Having to make overnight life-changing decisions to try to save my dad. With that comes the extra anguish of the hefty medical bills.”
Liesl’s dad is a tour operator. One of those special humans who doesn’t just show people our country… he helps them feel it. He has spent years guiding tourists through South Africa and beyond, teaching them about our history, our wildlife, our landscapes and our stories. His work has never been just a job, it’s part of his identity.
But to do what he loves, he needs his voice.
And right now, cancer is stealing it.
He’s in pain and struggling to speak. And yet he’s still determined to fight.
His oncologist has stressed that treatment must start immediately: radiation and chemotherapy without delay. With no medical aid, the family must pay everything up front, and the costs are staggering:
- Radiation (Technical Code 88817): R154,726.20
- Radiation (Professional Code 88807): R57,811.05
- Chemotherapy (2 infusions): R15,148.44 each = R30,296.88
- Total: R242,834.13
Their medical team has already offered discounted rates, incredible kindness in itself, but the amount remains far beyond what the family can cover alone.
Despite the heartbreak, despite the urgency and despite the fear… people have shown up.
The BackaBuddy has already raised R74,231 of the R242,900 needed. A powerful reminder that compassion travels quickly, especially when it matters.
Every donation, every share and every message carries the same quiet promise: You’re not doing this alone.
“My dad has given so much joy to others by showing them the wonders of our country. Now, we hope to give something back to him… a fighting chance to recover his health, his voice and his life’s purpose. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support, kindness and compassion.”
This is the kind of story that reminds us how deeply connected we all are. One family asks for help. And dozens of hearts start moving in the same direction. One man loses his voice. And strangers from across the country raise theirs in solidarity.
One woman who has carried her own battles still finds strength to fight for her father.
When people come together, even the heaviest loads become lighter.
Liesl’s dad has a long road ahead. But he does not walk it alone.
To donate to the Backabuddy campaign, click here.
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