Bruce Campbell: The Rare Warrior Who Refuses to Stop At Rare Diseases South Africa , we celebrate resilience, courage, and community, values personified by Bruce Campbell , a true Rare Warrior whose journey inspires both the rare disease community and the sporting world. A Life of Resilience Bruce’s battle with rare disease began at six years old when he was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome , leaving him paralysed and on a ventilator. Against the odds, he learned to wal

I was twelve years old when I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) . My dad had it, and with a 50% chance of passing it on, my family always knew it was something we needed to watch for. Still, nothing could have prepared us for how my life would unfold. A Childhood Marked by Tumours and Treatment My first MRI revealed a tumour growing on my vestibulocochlear nerve. I had just turned thirteen when I began my first twenty‑eight sessions of radiation . Within month

My name is Reshmie , and I live with multiple rare diseases. Over the years, I have faced thyroid cancer , undergone a splenectomy , and had a portion of my pancreas removed in a pancreatectomy . My medical challenges have been heavy, unpredictable, and often overwhelming—yet I am not alone as I continue fighting. Every day I remind myself: I am still here, and I am still going. What Does “Equity” Mean in My Story? For me, equity begins with simply being heard . The hardest p