Asalamualaykum/hello,

This is the 1st and hopefully the last time I ever have to do anything like this.

I started this go fund me page to help raise money to buy a new, second hand car after my current car which is 15 years old, broke down on me and my daughter last Sunday. I have been told by my current mechanic ( who's garage it is currently at ) that they won't do reconditions it has to go to a specialist. That specialist is about 14 or so miles away. They've said it'll cost me £900+ to fix my gearbox. That's without anything else being wrong with it as the clutch may be faulty too. My current car, a Vauxhall astra is probably only worth about that much. I just don't have the money to fix if and it. The best advice I've had is to scrap the car because I'd have to pay for the tow to Cwmbran and then somehow get to Cwmbran as there isn't direct transport.

Then what happens if something else goes after that ?

I've had a testing year or more with my mental health really taking a fall last year as well as many ither issues. In September I was 'let go ' from my job because i took time off for my mental health. Their excuse was they 'couldn't support me anymore'. I have been living off a small income for three people since then, living week to week and using a local food bank weekly to help supplement our shopping. I have a 6'1" 16 year old son who eats and drinks me out of house and home as well as a 17 year old daughter.

It's now the end of July 2025 and I am still looking for a job.

I have applied and even attended interviews ( in England ) for Apprenticeships. I've applied for various roles within the council, NHS, charities and so on, to not be shortlisted or to miss out on the role after the interview. I can't get into retail as i don't have recent retail experience. I am starting specialised jobsearch help with the Restart programme which seems promising. However, in the meantime I had taken the decision to restart my mobile cupping/hijamah again. I had three clients already booked across Cardiff. I managed to do one of these ladies, before I broke down.

I have all my equipment including a massage bed. I'm also mobile because I dont really have the space at home to carry out treatments at home.

The second reason for this Gofund me

I also started doing cupping again to help me pay for Umrah. This year will be 20 years since I took my shahadah and I am also 40 in September, meaning I've been Muslim for half my life. I've also had a horrible year or two and really felt I could do with the spiritual uplift and where else better to be than in Makkah and Madina on my shahadversary? Again, I did not expect to be out of work for so long. I paid the deposit ( £750) at the beginning of the year and thought I'd be able to pay the rest of it ( about 1k) by the deadline which is September this year because i thought id be back in work and far better off than i am now. This is also why I started the hijamah so I could make up the deficit. I am also doing Vinted - anything to help too.

However, without a car I cannot do the cupping/hijamah as offering a mobile service is usually what makes me popular. My house isn't that big and I don't have a spare room to do hijamah from.

As a single mum of two teens, while they're older and can go to places by themselves, i still have to ferry them around and I still have to do the weekly shop which is much harder without a car. My family also do not live in Cardiff and most employers want someone with access to a car ( 2/3 of my last jobs required me to have a car ). Public transport is actually more expensive that petrol and trains are ridiculously expensive. Both buses and trains are also unreliable at times.

I have already asked my children's father if he'd be willing to help. I was met with a resounding 'no' straight away, despite me sending a picture of my daughter sat by the side of the road next to our car when we broke down.

I don't have family help and I am literally on my own.

The reason why I have set it at 10k is because I'd like to buy a decent second hand car that isn't that old, and, from a reputable dealer. I'm thinking something reliable like a Nissan ( I used to have a Nissan Note - most reliable car I've ever owned ). There is a car dealership walking distance from me called Jeff White and there are several Nissans - Micra, Qashqai and Leaf- from around the 8 to 10k mark. If I go for another banger of a car what's to say I won't have the same issues again or worse - need a new engine and not a gear box ?

It was soul crushing having to pay £233 to be towed home on Sunday just gone - this is money I don't have so I literally cried on the phone as I was paying for it. This was because I had to call my breakdown recovery just three weeks before as my car woukd not go into gear.

This is my 20th year of Islam and I have never asked the community for anything. In fact, several kind souls ( muslims in this case ) who shall remain nameless, that I don't even know in person ( bar one ) donated money to help me fix my car before i found out its pointless. I have kept that separate and I have told them honestly there's no point me fixing it and I have said I will send the money back over.

They have kindly said to keep ithe money. The total comes to about £500 in total. If I scrap the car I will get about £200 if i'm 'lucky'. I'm thinking I could put this toward a newer car.

I don't like talking about myself but I would like to think I'm someone who wants the best for everyone, who tries to help people where possible and is active within the community, especially with regard to Filasteen. I just completed 22mile cycle ride for Filasteen last weekend. Saturday 26th I am travelling by mini bus ( heavily subsidised) to Aberystwyth for the Red Line protest. I've also campaigned against Reform in the Valleys and I use my social media Platform to educate others on what's going on in the world and locally.

I try to maintain ties of kinship although this can be difficult at times. I have been a single parent for over a decade putting my kids first, making sure they have stability. It's been no easy feat raising them by myself, helping them get through their GCSEs and formative years.

It's been difficult but I am still here despite the challenges and low income i am currently on. I am grateful for what I do have and realise I have far more than many others do.

A little extra help would be amazing.

The money will solely go toward a new second hand car and the costs that this entails including insurance, MOT tax etc. If I'm able to get a new car I will be bale to start my treatments again and inshallah pay the rest of my Umrah off too. I will also be able to travel to any potential job with ease which is attractive to employers, and I'll be able to run errands, shuttle my children around and do my weekly shop without struggle.

We are taught that in Islam it is better to give than to receive which is why I am swallowing my pride even more so. But we are also taught relieving the burden of another for the sake of Allah, is also massively rewarding and you will be recompensed in return by Allah swt.

I am ever grateful for anyone who supports me. May Allah reward you ameen.

I've attached photos of some of the cars I saw today. Even Fiat 500s are almost this much! I'm also happy to screenshot conversations with mechanics to prove my point and you'll be able to see the dates of my posts, when i first started advertising to when I broke down.

May Allah swt relieve the burdens