Simba, the Sea Point beach artist, has brought so much love to his community with his beach creations, often anonymously. After he was revealed as the resident ‘rockstar’ artist, GTG readers united to give him a special gift in light of his other love—reading!

Sea Point, South Africa (15 February 2024) — Simba, the resident ‘rockstar’ artist in Sea Point, got a special surprise from Good Things Guy readers recently—books to help complete his collection of Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series!

This wholesome update comes after Simba, who is homeless, was revealed in January as the creator behind the heartwarming rock art that lights up Sunset Beach in the suburb—a prom walk delight that’s made many a passerby smile.

One of the GTG readers who helped identify Simba and often interacts with him—Lynn Stacey—told Good Things Guy that Simba is an avid reader. She helped get Simba hooked on Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters books but, unfortunately, did not have the rest of the books to complete the collection.

GTG reader Igna De Villiers responded to the call per our last article on Simba with three more books; gifted to Simba recently. A lover of the community even with the little he has, Lynn also gave him some cat pellets as Simba is serious about feeding feral cats. Further, Simba has shared that once he finishes the books he intends to donate them to the CAFDA Bookshop in Sea Point for another reader to fall in love with the series.

“I wish you could’ve seen his face. He absolutely totally couldn’t believe it and was absolutely over the moon to receive them.”

Should anyone have the final 3 books in the series, please contact ashleigh@goodthingsguy.com.

Sources: Supplied 

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The beach lover and ‘rockstar’ of Sea Point’s Sunset Beach has been revealed thanks to Good Things Guy readers!

Sea Point, South Africa (21 January 2024)—Recently, the Good Things Guy team were on the lookout for the rockstar of Sea Point, who has been leaving one Sunset Beach (just before Saunders) a little lovelier every evening.

In case you missed it, the mystery rockstar has been creating regular visual love letters to the seaside suburb using rocks to make heartwarming formations. More often than not, there’s a massive heart to marvel at.

As one of our readers shared:

“I don’t know who the Rockstar is but I walk along the beach front as often as I can and I am amazed at the creative hearts that appear on that stretch of sandy beach…I sometimes managed to take a picture before the creation gets replaced. In a world that is often so cruel…there’s still love and plenty to be grateful for.” 

After the community had been privy to the love enough times, the search for the beachgoer behind them was on.

Many of our readers knew exactly who the rockstar was. Some had spent time learning about his life. Others had shared meals with him before. Several readers revealed that he is homeless. And, that he has a big heart.

He is referred to as Simba.

“Simba cares for Sunset Beach, the environment and sealife with so much love and such wonderful positive energy,” a different reader tells Good Things Guy.

“He is a lovely person, always smiling and friendly,” another added.

“I was as amazed to see the care that has gone into each and every creation. Fortunately, I got to meet Simba, the artist. A warm and charismatic guy. Whenever we see each other, his eyes light up and we have a lovely chat before we continue, each with our self-appointed task,” were the insights of another Simba fan.

It’s safe to say that Simba has won over much of Sea Point, so much so that one of our readers has mentioned getting some more books together for him (Simba is said to love Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters books).

Anyone who might have these books or others that they’d like to share with Simba can contact info@goodthingsguy.com.

Sources: GTG

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post The Rockstar of Sea Point Revealed! Meet Simba  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Adding to the natural charms Sea Point is known for is a ‘rockstar’ who adds a little love to one of the suburb’s beaches almost every evening!

Sea Point, South Africa (08 January 2024) — Every evening, walkers, runners, skaters and cyclers who take to Sea Point’s pavements and paths can look forward to some of nature’s most enriching treasures (for free).

There are an abundance of beaches, each with its own personality. No two sunsets are ever the same. And, in the background from almost every location in the suburb, Lion’s Head is softly looking down on you.

In the midst of all these gentle, bold and blow-your-fringe-back marvels, there is another natural treasure to take in—the joy of the people around you experiencing it all.

As if a Promenade walk didn’t all feel cinematic enough, there’s another sight of gentle delight to enjoy when you pace further up beyond the community swimming pools. It’s a reflection of the joy every onlooker experiences, and an invitation to pay the joy forward with a rich heart.

Just before Saunders Beach is the lesser-frequented Sunset Beach. There, rocks take different formations to make pictures that’ll make passersby smile. But, this is not nature’s arrangement. Instead, it is the work of an unsung rockstar who dedicates themselves to different displays inciting smiles. More often than not, there’s a massive heart to marvel at. These creations happen practically every evening, making them an expected surprise for frequent walkers.

There are few things we value more at Good Things Guy than people going above and beyond to leave a little love behind, no matter where they are or what they have to work with. As such, we’re on the search for the rockstar!

Anyone with more information as to who the rockstar is, or why they do what they do, please contact us on info@goodthingsguy.com.

Here’s to a year of spreading more love, wherever we go.

Sources: GTG

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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William Sheepskin, a young photographer from Sea Point, learned he would face the challenge of a lifetime last year—testicular cancer. But, support came knocking from all corners to help ease the other ball-aches that come with the Big C, allowing him to get back to his passion.

Sea Point, South Africa (25 October 2023) — In May 2022, William Sheepskin, a 27-year-old photographer from Sea Point, Cape Town, faced a life-altering diagnosis: testicular cancer. This unexpected medical journey not only tested his physical strength but also posed financial and emotional challenges—the other “ball-aches” of circumstance – that threatened to eclipse his dreams and future plans.

Maya, William’s partner of six years, a 25-year-old student pursuing a Master’s in Architecture at the University of Cape Town, shared her perspective on the daunting moment of diagnosis.

“There is never a good time for a cancer diagnosis. But Will’s career was gaining momentum, and I had just begun my postgraduate studies in architecture at UCT. It’s quite something to be twenty-five and twenty-seven, smacked in the face with urgent existential thoughts: What does OUR future look like? Do we want kids? Should we freeze sperm? Is Will going to die?”

Despite the emotional turmoil, William remained resilient as he prepared for a Radical Inguinal Orchiectomy, a surgical procedure to remove a testicle. However, the emotional blow struck when their fertility doctor revealed that due to cancer, William was likely permanently infertile. Their only option for future parenthood would be in vitro fertilization, a procedure they could only consider years later due to the lingering effects of chemotherapy.

The biopsy results confirmed the tumour’s malignancy, leading to a two-month recovery period after surgery. William then embarked on a course of carboplatin chemotherapy to minimize the risk of cancer spreading to vital organs. While the treatment marked a significant milestone, it was only the beginning of a tumultuous journey.

Three days after chemotherapy, William resumed remote work, determined to press on despite the challenges. Cancer didn’t deter his work ethic; it only made life more expensive. The financial strain, coupled with physical fatigue, burnout, and anxiety, continued to take a toll on his well-being. He often pushed himself to work long hours, only to face weeks of bedridden repercussions.

This cycle endured for a year, during which time William’s savings steadily diminished while he grappled with mounting medical expenses not covered by insurance.

Amidst the challenges of dealing with what they often humorously referred to as this “ball-ache of a disease,” Maya highlighted their shared coping mechanism.

She explained, “A cancer journey is an immense burden, and humour has been our way of lightening it. We’ve found that making light of the situation is a strategy that Will and I tend to turn to. People inquire about your well-being, and you respond with, ‘Yeah, everything is fine!’ even as you strive to convince yourself that it’s true.”

Determined to ease their financial burden and support William’s return to photography, Maya launched a crowdfunding campaign on Backabuddy. The campaign aimed to raise funds for medical bills, four more years of medical tests and check-ups, CT scans, fertility storage, and essential supplements that had become too expensive to maintain.

Maya’s heartfelt plea to help her partner recover read, “Most of all, I want my strong, creative, and passionate Will to enjoy his craft and offer him the time to find his footing again to make a living from his lens. I miss this Will.”

The response was overwhelming.

Within a month, the campaign received support from over 1,000 donors, surpassing the initial target of R140,000 and raising over R235,000. The outpouring of generosity not only alleviated financial stress but also brought renewed hope and determination to Will and Maya as they faced the ongoing challenges of his cancer journey.

Maya expressed her gratitude, saying, “The support has meant that all of the stress associated with the financial burden of having cancer and going through the process of treating it has been alleviated. It also dramatically reduced the stress of being out of work for an extended period of time. Will was always tired and becoming extremely burnt out since he never had a chance to just reflect on what he’d been going through, and the BackaBuddy campaign has allowed him to start living on his own terms again instead of making decisions informed by the weight of illness.”

Now Will has been able to start taking on jobs that focus on progressing his career, rather than merely securing money. For him, it no longer feels like cancer completely changed the way he had to make decisions about life, thanks to the fundraiser being far more successful than this young couple could have ever hoped for.

Sources: BackaBuddy

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

testicular cancer, testicular cancer, testicular cancer

The post Young Man Facing Testicular Cancer Gets Incredible Support from Community appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Thousands took to the Sea Point Prom over the weekend; walking to feed hungry schoolchildren. Together, their steps raised over half a million rand, securing meals that’ll feed these children for a whole year!

Cape Town, South Africa (31 August 2023) — For the better part of a century, the Blisters for Bread charity walk has united the people of the Cape Peninsula and anyone wanting to use their feet to do some good on August’s last Sunday, annually.

Over the weekend, the Sea Point Promenade became enthralled with tons of food steps, all united in a goal to raise awareness, morale and funds for hungry school children.

In fact, around 6,000 people of all ages united for the 5km and 10km walks, raising over half a million rand for their steps (R581 877 from entry fees and donations).

Thanks to them, nearly 1,000 schoolchildren will not need to worry about breakfast and lunch for a whole year.

At the helm of Blisters for Bread’s ship is the Peninsula School Feeding Association, which serves 27,000 meals a day in the Western Cape; like the recent St Helena Bay school success story we shared!

‘PSFA’s Blisters for Bread Charity Family Fun Walk is a shining example of the positive change that can be brought about when a community comes together for a common cause. By raising funds to feed impoverished schoolchildren, this event will not only fill hungry tummies but also nurture hope, unity, and the belief in the power of collective efforts to transform lives,’ said Petrina Pakoe, The Peninsula School Feeding Association’s Director.

Sources: PSFA; City of Cape Town 

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Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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Capetonians, this is not a drill. More Parking is on the cards for the Sea Point Promenade and Granger Bay near the Waterfront, as well as other awesome charms.

Cape Town (12 May, 2023)—More parking spots is the secret wish of most Capetonians, even the ones who can find a parking spot against all tourist odds.

Well, that wish is coming true for two Cape Town hotspots—The Sea Point Promenade and Granger Bay as part of the City’s parking area project!

But, that’s not nearly all. The City has also announced other features for the buzzing Atlantic Seaboard areas, including new and upgraded walkways, public art, coastal structures, a play park and a lawn and coastal vegetation.

And, Sea Point, which is already an art-loving hub, will enjoy the artists’ touch further as the Sea Point Library is set to receive a public art addition.

Not to mention, things are going to get a little greener.

“The City is working towards a greener Sea Point promenade with two added walkways connecting the promenade to Beach Road and a play park. We cannot wait for you to see the outcomes that will include a public art display inside the Sea Point Library.

“The upgrade of the Granger Bay parking area will also make way for more parking, with formalised bays demarcated. The Sea Point promenade is an iconic destination and one of the most popular among locals and visitors. We are continuously improving the infrastructure and look forward to seeing more visitors once the project is complete.”—Mayco for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

The project is set to be a 12-month-long assignment and will kick off on Monday, 15 May.

Source: City of Cape Town

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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