Help Izzy Get the Life-Changing Support She Need
Donation protected
Why I’m Asking for Help
Hi everyone, My name’s Maggie De Castro Goncalves, and I’m a single mum to my beautiful daughter Isabelle (Izzy), who’s currently going through one of the hardest times of her young life. I’ve raised Izzy alone since birth without any support from her father. Over the past few months, things have taken a heartbreaking turn — and I’ve exhausted every option I have to help her. Izzy has been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, ADD, and Conduct Disorder — and I suspect she is also on the Autism spectrum.
Without access to financial support through NDIS, and with our former psychologist retiring, we’ve been fighting this battle largely on our own. Since late 2024, Izzy has been caught in a downward spiral: • Involved with the wrong crowd • Shoplifting • Smoking, drinking, and even taking MDMA • Suspended from school multiple times and now at serious risk of being expelled I’ve tried everything — school supports, counselling services, youth outreach programs — and we are out of options. It’s now at a point where I can’t do this alone anymore. ⸻
The Opportunity That Could Change Everything I found an incredible 9-day program run by Veteran Mentors, a team of Australian Defence Force veterans who work with troubled youth. It’s called the Junior Leader Program — and it’s exactly what Izzy needs: structure, accountability, resilience, and a chance to reset her life. More info:
https://www.veteranmentors.com.au/ • It includes daily challenges, emotional development, and a Parenting Workshop that I will attend as well. •
The feedback from other families who’ve done this program is inspiring and emotional — Watch the testimonies here ⸻
What We Need Help With • Program deposit: $500 (Already paid!) • Remaining balance: $3300($1700 in donations to date paid to veteran mentors) (Interest-free for 3 months remaining balance) • Flights & travel (to Brisbane/Caloundra, QLD): ~$1000 (I’ve Paid today 4/6/25) I need to be there for the Parent Workshop on July 5th and Graduation on July 6th. Total goal: $6000 ⸻
raised to date: $4530
Why This Matters Getting Izzy into this program isn’t just about saving her from a bad path — it’s about giving her a real chance at a future. A future where she can believe in herself, stay out of trouble, and reconnect with her family and community.
As for me — I’m also struggling. I’ve been recently diagnosed with BPD, ADHD, and under assessment for bipolar disorder, while dealing with intense physical issues including suspected endometriosis and rapid weight loss due to stress. I’m trying to stay strong for my kids, but I’m exhausted. I need help — and I’m finally reaching out to ask for it. ⸻
How You Can Help Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards helping Izzy get into this life-changing program. • and sonatipn big or small directly reduces our repayment burden If you can’t donate, please share this page.
Every share brings us closer to someone who might be able to help. I’m a proud, independent mum who’s always found a way… but right now, I need my village.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping give Izzy — and our little family — a second chance. —
Hi everyone, My name’s Maggie De Castro Goncalves, and I’m a single mum to my beautiful daughter Isabelle (Izzy), who’s currently going through one of the hardest times of her young life. I’ve raised Izzy alone since birth without any support from her father. Over the past few months, things have taken a heartbreaking turn — and I’ve exhausted every option I have to help her. Izzy has been diagnosed with ADHD, ODD, ADD, and Conduct Disorder — and I suspect she is also on the Autism spectrum.
Without access to financial support through NDIS, and with our former psychologist retiring, we’ve been fighting this battle largely on our own. Since late 2024, Izzy has been caught in a downward spiral: • Involved with the wrong crowd • Shoplifting • Smoking, drinking, and even taking MDMA • Suspended from school multiple times and now at serious risk of being expelled I’ve tried everything — school supports, counselling services, youth outreach programs — and we are out of options. It’s now at a point where I can’t do this alone anymore. ⸻
The Opportunity That Could Change Everything I found an incredible 9-day program run by Veteran Mentors, a team of Australian Defence Force veterans who work with troubled youth. It’s called the Junior Leader Program — and it’s exactly what Izzy needs: structure, accountability, resilience, and a chance to reset her life. More info:
https://www.veteranmentors.com.au/ • It includes daily challenges, emotional development, and a Parenting Workshop that I will attend as well. •
The feedback from other families who’ve done this program is inspiring and emotional — Watch the testimonies here ⸻
What We Need Help With • Program deposit: $500 (Already paid!) • Remaining balance: $3300($1700 in donations to date paid to veteran mentors) (Interest-free for 3 months remaining balance) • Flights & travel (to Brisbane/Caloundra, QLD): ~$1000 (I’ve Paid today 4/6/25) I need to be there for the Parent Workshop on July 5th and Graduation on July 6th. Total goal: $6000 ⸻
raised to date: $4530
Why This Matters Getting Izzy into this program isn’t just about saving her from a bad path — it’s about giving her a real chance at a future. A future where she can believe in herself, stay out of trouble, and reconnect with her family and community.
As for me — I’m also struggling. I’ve been recently diagnosed with BPD, ADHD, and under assessment for bipolar disorder, while dealing with intense physical issues including suspected endometriosis and rapid weight loss due to stress. I’m trying to stay strong for my kids, but I’m exhausted. I need help — and I’m finally reaching out to ask for it. ⸻
How You Can Help Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly towards helping Izzy get into this life-changing program. • and sonatipn big or small directly reduces our repayment burden If you can’t donate, please share this page.
Every share brings us closer to someone who might be able to help. I’m a proud, independent mum who’s always found a way… but right now, I need my village.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping give Izzy — and our little family — a second chance. —
Organizer
Maggie Goncalves
Organizer
Earlville, QLD