Documentary filmmaker and photographer Joshua Rubin, known on social media as 'joshwideawake', had always dreamed of travelling around South Africa. However, it was the leukaemia diagnosis of a child in his family that turned that dream into a journey with a purpose. Rubin and his childhood best friend, Daniel Schultz, set out to explore the country, meet people, and experience new places while raising money for two-year-old Ethan, who has leukaemia.
The fundraising journey initially had a target of R200 000, but Rubin increased it to R250 000 after donations surpassed the original goal. At the time of the interview, the new target had not yet been reached, but Rubin said they were close. The idea for the trip had been developing for some time, as Rubin had begun to feel monotonous with his life, spending most of his time filming videos and editing them for weeks.
Rubin and Schultz spent about two months planning activities and encounters in each province, but flexibility became essential as they travelled. We Buy Cars provided them with a vehicle for the journey. The pair would wake up, find accommodation, drive several hours, and try to make contact with people they wanted to meet. By the end of the journey, Rubin said they had managed to do almost everything they had planned.
The trip was expensive, particularly due to the amount of driving involved, with fuel becoming a significant cost. However, the experience challenged some of Rubin's expectations about travelling in South Africa. Safety had been one of his concerns before leaving, but Rubin said they had felt safe throughout most of the journey. He noted that South Africa is actually a lot safer for travellers than most people think it is.
One of the more unusual stops was Ponte City in Johannesburg, the cylindrical residential tower that has become one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. Rubin had visited the building before but had never stayed there. During the trip, he decided it would be an interesting place to spend a night. Rubin was also determined to visit Clifford, a man known online as the "caveman" of Wilderness.
The journey also brought an unexpected addition to Rubin's family. Near the end of the trip, the pair found an 11-year-old golden retriever, Mia. After getting hold of the dog's owner, who informed him that Mia had been missing for seven weeks, Rubin adopted her, and she has since joined his family. Rubin mentioned that Mia has cancer and is receiving treatment.
For Rubin and Schultz, the most significant part of the trip was finally reaching Ethan. They saw him about a month into the journey and spent two days with him. Rubin had last seen Ethan towards the end of the previous year, and the time apart had made the changes particularly striking. Despite his condition, Ethan remained recognisably himself, and Rubin described him as a happy kid who just wants to play and have fun.
Key points
- The trip was undertaken to raise money for two-year-old Ethan, who has leukaemia.
- Rubin and Schultz travelled across South Africa, visiting unusual places and meeting new people.
- The journey resulted in an unexpected addition to Rubin's family, an 11-year-old golden retriever named Mia.
