Our Dad - Our Hero

Hi Friends/Family & Strangers,

Our dad is, and always will be, the strongest and most resilient man we know. A man of quiet determination, he has faced every challenge in life with unwavering courage and strength. Whether it was in his career, family life, or his passion for endurance cycling, he gave nothing less than his all, and he never failed to conquer what he set out to achieve.

Up until July 2024, he was an avid cyclist, participating in grueling races like the Sani2c and the Amashova tours in South Africa. The Sani2c alone is a 270km, three-day event that demands strength, grit, and stamina, qualities our dad has always had in abundance. He thrived on pushing his limits, enjoying the beauty in life’s simple pleasures, camping in the Kruger National Park, sitting barefoot by a crackling campfire, and soaking in the stillness of nature.

But everything changed.

In January 2024, he began experiencing muscle fasciculations. What started as a small, unexplained symptom rapidly progressed into devastating weakness. In just over a year, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) has taken away his ability to move freely. Today, he is fully dependent on a wheelchair and requires 24-hour care. And yet, even in the face of this cruel disease, he continues to fight, showing up for work, holding onto his independence, and facing each day with quiet dignity.

The heart breaking reality is that, in the coming months, he will likely become bed-bound and reliant on a assisted breathing devices to breathe.

But even then, we know our dad will still be in there, his thoughts, his humour, his love, his wisdom. And that’s why we’re reaching out.

We want to become his strength now. We want to be his voice, just as he has always been our protector and guide. But more than anything, we want to help him keep his voice, his ability to express his thoughts, needs, love, and fears. We are desperately trying to raise the funds to get him an Eye Motion communication device. This technology will allow him to speak through eye movement when every other muscle fails. It will give him back his voice, his agency, his connection to us and to the world.

South Africa is still behind in providing adequate support for ALS patients. While organizations like the Joost Foundation have begun to raise awareness, access to vital medical equipment like this is still far too limited, and painfully expensive.

We’re asking for your help to give our dad the dignity, connection, and comfort he so deeply deserves. Help us ensure he doesn't face each day trapped in silence. Help us hear his thoughts, his "I love you's", his stories, and his goodbyes, until his very last breath.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.

His Daughters!

PS. we would like to pay it forward and donate all of the equipment once no longer needed, to a person/family in South Africa who also might not have the funds to help their loved one living with ALS.