"After cancer and the "pandemic" took my parents and left me burnt out, I’m now at a crossroads. I’ve been having a hard time with self-care because of the burnout. My diet isn't ideal, sleeping is totally disrupted, all day everyday I have no energy at all. I'm wondering if I'll ever get back to a place of peace.. I’m seeking short-term support to put my belongings into storage and get my car running again, that's all. With this help, I can move forward again, find peace, and continue sharing my skills and passion with others, allowing me to stop being stuck in this bottleneck."

Short Summary:

I had my life fully on track before the "pandemic" — career, car, and clear future plans, and in reality this is still the case. But right now I am truly stuck in a bottleneck. The "pandemic" destroyed our lives, it took my parents, and the chaos created around me burned me out completely. Once they were gone, I became trapped in this probate process that blocks access to my inheritance as I'm stuck living in the house that needs selling. I’m not asking for long-term support — only help to put my belongings into storage and fix my car so the house can be sold. Once that happens, I can fund the rest myself and move forward independently, go camping and reconnect with nature to find that peace.

All I really need is the ability to make 4 phone calls, 1 to the tow-truck to take my car to get 2 repairs and MoT, 3 to call movers to put my stuff into 4 a storage facility. That's what I need.

My Story:

We all face hardships in life. Some of us have difficult childhoods, and some of us are lucky enough to live full and varied lives despite those hardships. I’ve been fortunate to have lived a fulfilling and adventurous life, even with challenges I didn’t ask for or need.

I’ve spent many years teaching water sports and outdoor pursuits. I’ve worked in the tech industry, the organic food industry, the outdoor industry, and many others. I’ve been trusted to lead teams countless times — from guiding people down whitewater rivers, to climbing hills, cliffs, and mountains, navigating caves, sailing the oceans and waters, to working safely with dangerous equipment, to leading highly skilled people with high demand environments, to serving as a captain/skipper on large boats. People consistently chose me for leadership roles because they trusted me to lead them.

To put it simply, I can do a lot. I can sail oceans or fix computers — and almost anything in between. Whatever I do next is often completely different from what I did before. I’m full of skills and knowledge that I feel are underutilized right now. Much of what I know is self-taught, alongside top-tier formal training — including yacht sailing & sea survival, ocean navigation, business creation, and leadership. I’ve been lucky to have had these opportunities, and I’ve always given them my all, but this time I need the help myself.

Before the "Pandemic":

In the years leading up to the "pandemic", my life was on a clear, steady, and promising path. I was set to pay off my brand-new car by 2022, move into my own place, live independently, and then either start my own business (organic gardening, computer repair, landscaping) or return to the super-yachting industry to work toward captaining my own charter vessel.

What Changed:

Like it did for so many people, the "pandemic" turned everything upside down. It brought unexpected financial challenges and delayed my ability to pay off my car — something I eventually completed only with help from friends. It also created debt I never wanted or needed, which I’ve managed to repay by pushing through challenging workplaces. The "pandemic" also brought abuse toward me, I lost my ability to trust people, and deep personal grief and trauma was created by people I trusted. Then I lost both of my parents within a short period, and I’ve been living alone in their house ever since. This isolation, combined with grief and burnout, has been extremely difficult. I like solitude, but that because it's a choice. This isolation isn't a choice I made.

I poured enormous energy into simply staying alive and trying to move forward. Every day became an act of will. My vision of peace — cooking by a campfire near a lake, writing books, and teaching meaningful skills — became the thing I've held onto just to keep going.

Probate and Burnout:

Alongside grief, I became stuck in a position where I couldn’t act. I was completely burned out and, to a large extent, still am. At the same time, the probate process began. Because of how probate works, I cannot access the inheritance from my parents’ house until it is sold.

That inheritance would allow me to put my belongings into storage long-term, invest responsibly, and begin travelling — starting a new chapter where I can be genuinely happy and continue helping others, as I always have.

Why I’m Not Returning to Traditional Work:

The "pandemic" also fundamentally changed how I want to work and live. I chose not to return to conventional workplaces because they no longer felt safe or healthy for people who think independently and speak honestly.

Instead, I focused on developing skills that build long-term sustainability: investing, trading, writing books, content creation, streaming and many other things, and building a future based on knowledge rather than physical burnout. There’s an irony in writing this for a crowdfunding platform — but it reflects the transitional place I’m in and some skills in writing.

I embraced writing and creative work quickly and seriously. However, the exhaustion and toxic environment I was and am stuck in forced me to pause everything until I can give it my full energy again.

Where I’m Stuck Now:

I have the skills. I have the knowledge. I even have the equipment I need.

What I don’t have right now is the energy or short-term financial flexibility to bridge this final gap. I’ve struggled mostly in silence, supported by a small number of friends. After losing my last parent, I reached out for institutional help — but what was offered was more like long-term dependency than genuine assistance. There's no "benefits" for me, without giving up my body and mind to a system of control and toxicity... I got 1 food stamp out of 3 months of going to them for help... and one person is only allowed 3 food stamps every 6 months, which just makes no sense whatsoever... In other words, there's no institutional help. I recently discovered Turn2us, but I guess it will be much the same result.

I don’t want that institutionalised dependency path.

Asking for help has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I’m used to being the leader — the one who gets things done. That’s why I’m putting everything into this once. As I don’t plan to do this again.

What I Need Right Now:

To move forward, I need two practical things:

• Temporary storage for my belongings during the probate period, until the house is sold and the inheritance becomes accessible. After that, a small portion of the inheritance can cover long-term storage while I grow the rest and travel. I don’t have an exact timeline for the probate process, so I can only guess or hope it’s a few months. I expect I’ll need a double-garage-sized storage space for my belongings, including a boat on a road trailer, kayaks, bikes, and other large items, as well as furniture and other belongings.

• Car repairs and MOT, so I can leave the house behind, allow it to be sold, and begin travelling. The car is insured, taxed, and permitted. I bought it brand new — it just needs maintenance. One long-term goal is to replace the wet belt with a timing chain kit produced in the Netherlands, extending the car’s life for many years, probably by driving there from the UK and meeting them in person. I can’t say exactly how much the repairs will cost, but I do have the new sensor and battery that should get the engine running again. The MOT has a fixed price, but since the car has been sitting since April, it might need new discs and pads on the front and possibly new wipers. In an ideal scenario, I’d also get the air-con looked at because I suspect it lost pressure before the sensor put it into limp mode. It doesn’t need much to get it back on the road, and it’s relatively affordable since it’s just a normal family car. If donations allow, I’ll get everything fixed, and this includes the tow-truck to the garage. I have the replacement sensor, and I also have replacement wishbones and other parts that can be addressed at that time.

Funding Goal:

Target Amount: £3,000 – £5,000 (temporary support only)

Breakdown:

• Storage (3–6 months): £1,200 – £1,800

• Car repairs & MOT: £800 – £1,500

• Contingency / fees / unexpected costs: £500 – £700

Calculations from ChatGPT which assisted.

Any funds beyond this will help reduce the amount needed from the inheritance once probate is complete. It will also help cover basic living costs during this period.

My Vision:

This assistance is only needed for a short period. Once I've made the 4 phone calls I mentioned earlier, my belongings are safely stored, my car is running, and the inheritance comes through, I’ll be able to travel, invest wisely, write books, and teach valuable skills — potentially including outdoor pursuits, water sports, survival, yachting, investing, writing and more.

I want to live freely, without dependence on systems that keep people stuck instead of truly helping them. I want to give back again — to help others grow, learn, and build meaningful lives.

The last few years tried to break me, but I’m standing back up. If the "pandemic" taught me anything, it’s that we have to support one another when it truly matters.

Paying It Forward:

If I receive additional support beyond my immediate needs, I'm committed to redirecting those funds to help others in the GoFundMe community. It’s important to me to pay forward the kindness and support I receive, ensuring that others in need also have the chance to rebuild and thrive.

Greg.