Give Mari-Alena a Chance at Life

Hi, my name is Cilliers Potgieter, and I’m reaching out to ask for help in the fight to save my 23-year-old sister, Mari-Alena Potgieter. She’s currently battling for her life against an extremely aggressive cancer called Burkitt lymphoma, and time is running out.

Our Story

Mari-Alena was a healthy, vibrant young woman in Cape Town with her whole life ahead of her. But late last year, she began experiencing severe stomach pain. After months of scans, tests, and biopsies, she was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma — one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous blood cancers.

She’s endured every treatment thrown at her:

First-line chemotherapy (R-HyperCVAD)

Second-line salvage chemo (CODOX-M/IVAC)

Pain, nausea, hospitalizations, blood transfusions — and yet, the cancer has not responded.

Despite her incredible strength and positive spirit, her doctors now say chemotherapy alone is not enough. Her best chance is an advanced, experimental treatment called CAR T-cell therapy — but it’s not available here in South Africa.

A Chance at Life

The incredible team at Sheba Medical Center has reviewed her case and is willing to help. They’ve offered Mari-Alena a place in their CAR T-cell therapy program, which could wipe out the cancer completely and give her a second chance at life.

But there’s a catch:

This life-saving treatment is not covered by insurance and must be paid upfront. The cost estimate we’ve received is:

$70,000 deposit required immediately

Total cost expected: $140,000 – $200,000+, depending on her response, blood products, and hospitalization time.

How You Can Help

We’re doing everything we can as a family — but we can’t do this alone. We are urgently trying to raise the funds needed to:

Get her to Israel

Cover the treatment costs

Support her recovery while abroad

Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to saving Mari-Alena’s life.

If you can’t give, you can still help by:

Sharing this campaign

Praying or sending love and encouragement

Connecting us with anyone who might help with flights, accommodation, or fundraising ideas

Who She Is

Mari-Alena is more than just a patient. She’s an artist, a sister, a daughter, a fighter, and a light in the lives of everyone who knows her. She still smiles. She still believes. And we believe in her.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you for standing with us in this fight.

Cilliers Potgieter

On behalf of Mari-Alena and our family