HOEDSPRUIT – Former Hoedspruit resident and well-known hairdresser, Diane Smith, is once again fighting for her life after being diagnosed with stage 3C/4 cancer, just a year after overcoming stage 3 cervical cancer.

Her daughter, Jordin Young (25), has launched a fundraising campaign through BackaBuddy to help cover the costs of Diane’s treatment.

“We thought we had closed that chapter,” said Young. “But now the cancer is back. Doctors found multiple abnormal lymph nodes in her abdomen and a suspicious nodule in her lung, indicating the disease has spread. It’s devastating.”

Diane, who lived in Hoedspruit from 2010 to 2022 and owned the popular salon Hooked on Hair, is a single mother to Jordin and 12-year-old Jaylin. The family now lives in Johannesburg and is facing severe financial strain.

The campaign aims to raise R180 000 to cover specialist consultations, radiation, chemotherapy, travel expenses, nutritional and wellness support, and in-home care during recovery. So far, R22 800 has been raised.

“She is exhausted but not giving up,” said Jordin. “Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. We’re also asking for people to help by sharing the campaign and keeping our mom in their thoughts and prayers.”

Jordin, a former learner at Hoedspruit Christian School and Merensky Agricultural Academy, said her younger sister is still trying to process what’s happening. “It’s painful to watch our mom suffer again, especially for Jaylin. We just want her to have the fighting chance she deserves.”

Donations can be made via the campaign’s QR code. For more details, visit the BackaBuddy platform.