Hi, my name is Ashley and I'm a small business owner. Last night I received a heartbreaking email from a long time customer apologizing that they were unable to attend a recent business event.

This customer, let's call them Jane, went on to explain that they've recently been diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer. Receiving the diagnosis has negatively impacted their mental health, worsening their existing anxiety and depression. As a result, they have not been able to work or meet the demands of everyday life, struggling to leave the house most days.

The trickle-down impact of their diagnosis has put them behind on their household bills and they are facing potential eviction from their home.

Jane is a single, freelance creative whose sole income is reliant on commission work. Like many working in the gig economy, they have no health insurance, employer benefits or access to paid medical leave. The current economy has made it impossible for them to save for a rainy day, and like many of us live paycheck to paycheck.

Jane struggles with intense social anxiety but despite that, they have always made an effort to support my business by coming to ALL of my past markets and events. All of them. Jane is bright, warm, kind and deeply compassionate.

They have a long, difficult road ahead of them but financial insecurity shouldn't be something they have to focus on right now.

I am raising funds to help get Jane out of arrears with her current household bills, and give them a small financial cushion for the upcoming months. Something to take a bit of the pressure off while they work towards finding a more permanent financial solution.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

P.S. Asking for help can be extremely difficult and Jane is not comfortable in their current mental state to ask for public assistance. They have asked for their identity to remain private for now.