Hi, I'm raising funds for my friend Yvonne Gaux, because I can see that she is in need of some extra support from us.

This is what she says:

Hello, my name is Yvonne,

I am finding myself in a difficult family situation (it is just my daughter and myself), where we are both compromised in our health, especially my daughter. Without going into too much detail, respecting her privacy, dealing with insomnia for a very long time has led to all kinds of health issues.

At the same time we have to find a new home and my self-employment review is coming up, where I am expected to reach a certain income level to keep my small artist business, private loans are coming up for repayment and the amount of things on my to do list is just reaching an all time high.

Needless to say, I am overstretched and extremely worried about our immediate future, running around like a headless chicken, trying to deal with everything at the same time and still having the feeling of not getting anywhere. It all happens at the end of a long stretch of single motherhood and I am just hanging in there, on a sick note, but not getting much respite.

I am trying to keep on going with my ideas to build a more sustainable future, i.e. bringing more Arts & Crafts into our community through offering workshops for different age groups or training to be a Shiatsu practitioner, but it all gets jeopardised, when exhaustion hits big on either side of this small family and I can't do more than the bare minimum or have to do all the everyday jobs for two, while not running full steam myself. Then adding all the time spend on finding the right help, plus phone calls and appointments...... and then the week is gone.

So I am doing all kinds of flexible odd jobs to keep the head above water, but seeing most of the income go into the only working supplements, treatments and transport to get there (all not available through the NHS), so there is no chance to save up for the next housing deposit, the extra dentist appointment, the new pair of contact lenses, the extra pair of hands to do jobs I don't get to at the moment, not even thinking about getting the bike repaired, the needed pair of shoes, the overdue family visit abroad, raising funds for my daughter to do her driving licence or for me (and this is going to be my flexible future income) to finish my Shiatsu course.

Feeling often panicked and that I have exhausted the ways of borrowing money from supportive friends (which always comes with the pressure and the worry of thinking about when and how it can be paid back).

I so hope that we can get some relief in this way.

Can you help?

As Yvonne's friend I see that she has a lot to offer to our community and is trying her best to do so, but that she is really stretched. We as human beings are really good at keeping a brave face while we are struggling, but that doesn't mean it isn't there or we aren't in need of the people around us. I hope that we can help these two wonderful beings to recover, heal and thrive.