“This Is Beautiful”: Mzansi Filmmaker Drives Across SA to Save Cousin’s Son Battling Leukaemia
- Documentary filmmaker Joshua Rubin launched a road trip across South Africa to raise funds for his cousin Carlton’s two-year-old son, Ethan, who was diagnosed with leukaemia
- Carlton’s emotional story of adoption after losing his parents as a toddler resurfaced in the campaign, revealing the deep bond between the two men
- South Africans, including the SA Bone Marrow Registry, responded with support and offers to help Ethan get a second chance at life
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Source: Instagram
A South African documentary filmmaker is driving across the country with one goal: to help save a little boy’s life.
Joshua Rubin shared a video on Instagram on 5 August 2026 that quickly struck a nerve. In it, he explained that he was on a road trip around South Africa to raise money for his cousin Carlton’s two-year-old son, Ethan, who had recently been diagnosed with leukaemia.
Rather than tell Carlton’s story himself, Joshua chose to share an old interview he had filmed with Carlton years earlier, letting his cousin speak for himself.
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Two brothers bound by more
In the interview, Carlton recalled how he first came to live with Joshua’s family. His mother had worked as a housekeeper for Joshua’s aunt, Susan. When Carlton was just three years old, his parents passed away, leaving him with two options: return to Zimbabwe or stay in South Africa with Susan.
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It was young Joshua who made the difference. Carlton said Joshua told Susan he wanted his little buddy to stay. That moment changed everything. Carlton was adopted into the family, and the two grew up side by side, travelling together, making videos together, and becoming what Carlton described simply as brothers.
“We are brothers, man, and it’s been really, really, really awesome growing up with you,” Carlton said in the clip.
Joshua wrote in his caption that the video meant a great deal to him and that Carlton was now facing a challenge no parent should ever have to face. He directed followers to his profile for donation details.
Watch Joshua’s video here.
Mzansi rallies behind Ethan
The response from South Africans was immediate and heartfelt:
@sabonemreg wrote:
“At the South African Bone Marrow Registry, we help patients that suffer from blood related diseases such as Leukaemia, find a potential match and get a second chance at life, and we’d love to help. Please send us an email at donors@sabmr.co.za for further communication.”
@alutaningiza said:
“This isn’t your cousin, this is your brother. 🥹”
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Source: Briefly News
