Jo Med School Fundraiser Campaign

Do you have a childhood dream that you just never got to chase after and accomplish? That one that got away. Truth is, it’s never too late. We’re taught that you need to complete certain achievements at certain stages of your life. Though there are many examples of world-renowned names and brands that reached success a lot later in life. 

My name is Jo Rust. I live in Johannesburg, South Africa and I was born a dreamer of big dreams. I was also born a girl with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, a scientist, and a healer. I was also born Autistic, which I only found out recently. 

I've suffered from mental health struggles my whole life. Mostly due to the environment I grew up in. I have experienced a lot of trauma and abuse from a very young age and it has affected me in every part of my life. 

Even so, I've never stopped going after my ridiculously big dreams.

• In 2013 I set the world record as the first woman in history to have ridden around the entire African continent on a motorcycle, solo. I traveled 45 000 kilometers through 28 countries over one year.

• In 2014 I became a global brand ambassador for BMW Motorrad in Germany.

• In 2019 I wrote and published my own book on my journey around Africa.

• In 2021 I became a member of the Mensa High IQ Society. 

• In 2022 I gained entry into studying for a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology

And now, I'm getting back to chasing my lifelong dream of becoming a doctor. At school, I knew I wouldn’t be able to enter varsity as there was no money. I gave up on the idea of applying to medical school as I didn’t believe myself good enough to earn a bursary. 

Now, at the age of 39, I am on a path that will allow me to enter 3rd year of medical school at Wits University in 2026.

They have an amazing program that allows anyone with a Bachelor of Arts, and the fulfillment of a number of prerequisites to complete a medical degree in just 4 years by entering 3rd year of the medical program. It’s called the GEMP, which stands for the Graduate Entry Medical Program.

I’ve overcome my first hurdle in being accepted to study for a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of South Africa. In parallel, I need to complete a number of modules in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology over the next three years.

I didn’t anticipate that I’d need to pay for study fees this late in life. Truth is, I’m ‘too old’ to qualify for bursaries – and because my credit rating is a shambles, I don’t qualify for student loans either.

So I need your help. I need to raise over R550 000 ($31 000) over the next 3 years. The first $2000 I need to raise by the end of January 2023. I’m raising money by way of doing freelance work online on Upwork, and through traditional crowdfunding.

10% of whatever I raise, I give back by way of contributing toward the study fees of other students.
I have always had ridiculously big dreams. Historically I have also always achieved whatever I set out to do. This might be the most challenging dream I’ve gone after to date in my life, but with your help I know I can do it – and ultimately pay it forward by helping others on their healing journey as a specialist psychiatrist. I have decades of experience dealing with mental health difficulties and want to help other through sharing my experience and training to help them on their own journey toward healing.

Thank you so much for your care and support!