Our beloved Cindey—a devoted mother, daughter, sister, friend and incredible teacher—needs our help.

For 26 years, Cindey has been shaping young minds as a dedicated Grade 1 teacher in Cape Town, South Africa. As a Grade Head for 21 of those years, she has poured her heart into her students, going above and beyond to nurture and inspire thousands of little lives.

But now, Cindey is facing the fight of her life.

On January 20, 2025, she was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. As a single mother of three—her youngest just 10 years old—her first thoughts were not about herself but her students and children.

The Financial Burden

Despite having medical insurance through the South African Department of Education, years of financial strain as a single mother on a government teacher's salary meant she could never afford the additional "gap cover" that bridges the shortfall in medical expenses. Now, as medical bills flood in, we see how much is not covered—and it’s overwhelming.

Cindey underwent surgery on February 4th to insert a chemo port and started her first round of intense chemotherapy (the dreaded "Red Devil") on February 6th. Unfortunately, she has had an adverse reaction to her first round of chemo and is currently in hospital - not the greatest start to her treatment plan....

What Lies Ahead

Cindey has been placed on temporary incapacity, stepping away from the classroom to focus on her treatment. Over the next 8 - 10 months, she will need:

This journey will be physically and emotionally draining, but the last thing she should have to worry about is whether she can afford the care she needs to survive.

How You Can Help

No matter the size, every contribution will make a real difference in easing Cindey’s financial burden and allowing her to focus on what truly matters—fighting for her life and being there for her children.

Your kindness and generosity will help cover:

✔️ Medical treatments and procedures (despite being approved for oncology treatment by her medical insurance, they don't pay towards any of her chemo medications)

✔️ Specialist appointments & scans (medical insurance will pay 100% of the doctors' rates, but the doctors charge 275%)

✔️ Post-treatment recovery costs

✔️ Support for her children during this time

Cindey has spent her life giving to others—now, it’s our turn to give back to her.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love, support, and generosity. Let’s help Cindey win this fight.

With love and gratitude,

Willene (Cindey's sister living in Ireland)