Gregg Mitchley is Walking from Johannesburg to Durban to Save 2 Brave Little Humans

Photo Credit: Gregg Mitchley

Two young warriors are courageously facing a condition so rare that they are among the first in South Africa to face it. While their journey has now taken them to the United States for life-saving treatment, a hero back home is lacing up his shoes to make sure they aren’t walking this path alone.

Johannesburg, South Africa (03 March 2026) – While most kids enjoy the innocent joys and exciting discoveries of childhood, two brave souls are enduring a battle so rare and life-threatening that they are among the first in South Africa to face it.

Two-year-old Sadie and six-year-old Jesse Krause from Benoni have never really known what it’s like to just be kids in a crowd, playground or party. Diagnosed with DOCK8 (Dedicator of Cytokinesis 8), their immune systems are so severely compromised that what most of us would call “just a sniffle” or “a small cough” could very quickly turn into something life-threatening, like pneumonia.

Because of this, they still cannot safely spend time around groups of people. Every day life, for most families, simply isn’t possible for them. The only curative treatment is a bone marrow transplant, a highly specialised procedure most commonly performed at leading centres in the United States, where the majority of documented DOCK8 transplants have taken place.

After a long and emotional road, the family is now in the United States, where Jesse received his first round of treatment last month, a bone marrow transplant that offers real hope for a different kind of future.

“The transplant itself went very smoothly, and we’re so grateful that he had no immediate side effects from the infusion. A few days later, he started additional chemotherapy medication designed to help prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). He has since continued on immune-suppressing medication to further reduce the risk of GVHD, along with a growth factor medication to help stimulate his white blood cells to grow and multiply,” shares his parents, Clayton and Lee-Ann.

Right now, Jesse is in what they call the “transitional phase”, but life-saving treatment overseas comes at an enormous cost.

That is where Gregg Mitchley comes in. A man whose heart may be as big as his fit physique will be channelling that compassion and strength to raise funds for Sadie and Jesse.

From 26 March, Gregg will embark on a long trek from Johannesburg to Durban for two children who could really do with the backing of a united community.

Gregg met the family through a good friend and was instantly touched by their story. Good Things Guy caught up with the “Mitch Man”, who is also the Founder of the Gregg Mitchley Foundation, ahead of his journey and shared all about how he was moved to put his compassion into action.

“I’ve always had a very soft spot for children. I’m the kind of person who, at a braai or a gathering, will naturally end up sitting on the grass playing with the kids while everyone else is at the table. That’s just who I am. I connect easily with children, and I’ve always felt a responsibility to motivate them, encourage them, and bring lightness and positivity into their world wherever I can.

“When I heard about what these two young children are facing, it hit me deeply. They are so young, and yet they’re carrying something so heavy. I kept thinking that they deserve moments of freedom, moments of joy, and the chance to just be children despite the circumstances. That thought stayed with me,” Gregg tells us.

His walk to Durban, he says, is not about attention but about purpose, standing up and willingly putting his body on the line to show support.

“The doctors have advised me against doing it, especially with a pending hip replacement, but my heart wouldn’t allow me to sit still. I wanted to physically challenge myself, to push through discomfort, and in some small way, try to understand even a fraction of what these children and their families endure every single day,” shares a determined Gregg.

The compassionate athlete is most excited about seeing people come together through this initiative – to not just talk about unity, but actually live it.

“When communities stand together with a shared purpose, incredible things can happen. I believe that with the right heart and collective effort, anything is possible. I’m excited about meeting people along the way – the small towns, the stops on the road, the conversations, the encouragement, and the shared energy. When someone hoots, waves, stops to say hello, or takes a photo for the right reason, it becomes bigger than just a walk. It becomes a movement of support.”

Gregg considers himself merely the vehicle carrying the message. For him, what truly matters is that people rally behind these two little warriors in a meaningful way.

“There are ongoing and potentially overwhelming costs involved: medical treatment, possible overseas travel, long-term care. Even something as simple as contributing toward a plane ticket or helping cover post-operative expenses could make a life-changing difference,” he says.

If Gregg’s walk can inspire people to stand together, give what they can, and show genuine love and commitment, then it will have achieved its purpose.

Stay tuned to his social media to follow the epic journey. To help support this moving mission, consider leaving a donation to the banking details below:

Name: G-MAS Events
Bank: ABSA
Acc Number: 4113777887
Branck Number 632005
Account: Cheque
Swift Code: ABSAZAJJ
Ref: DBN/Walk Donation + Name and Surname