After medical aid let them down, a Cape Town couple turned to South Africans for help, and they showed up in the biggest way.
Cape Town, South Africa (07 August 2025) – In just nine days, more than R600,000 was raised to help Charissa Wiehahn start urgent treatment for aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. An amazing show of support from strangers who care.
Her husband, Darryn, started the fundraiser on BackaBuddy with one goal. To get his wife access to the care she needs as quickly as possible. When medical aid pulled their cover due to an old, unrelated benign lump, the couple were left in a flat panic, not only from the diagnosis, but from the seemingly insurmountable costs of proper treatment.
“Just when we needed them most, our medical aid cancelled our policy,” he shared in the campaign. “The reason? A benign fibroadenoma from 13 years ago – a harmless, non-cancerous lump that had no connection to Charissa’s current cancer diagnosis.”
With doors to public hospital care moving slowly and the risk of delays too great, the Wiehahns turned to BackaBuddy. Strangers responded with overwhelming kindness. Donations came pouring in, including three major contributions of R103,300, R100,000, and another R100,000.
Every cent counts toward Charissa’s immediate treatment at Vincent Pallotti Hospital, where there’s no waiting list and she can begin care right away. Her treatment includes four weeks of Epirubicin chemotherapy, followed by 12 weeks of Carboplatin and Taxol chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation therapy, and BRCA genetic testing.
The funding also helps cover the much-needed supportive care, complications, and a R4,000 salary loss each month for eight months while Charissa focuses on healing.
“Your contributions will… give us peace of mind to fight cancer instead of fighting financial stress,” Darryn wrote.
Despite the mountain ahead, the family is hopeful and deeply grateful.
“Cancer has taught us that we’re stronger together than apart,” he shared. “Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to giving Charissa the fighting chance she needs.”
As of now, they’ve exceeded their R600,000 goal, allowing Charissa to get the care she truly needs, without losing any time.
You can still support Charissa’s journey, or follow her story, via the BackaBuddy page here.
Sources: Linked above.
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