Tika's backstory reads like a cross between a Charles Dickens Novel, a Peep Show sketch, and the celebrated Fellini film Nights of Cabiria.

While her stories have often been delivered with humour and aplomb, the reality of them is that Tika has spent much of her life just barely scraping by. In recent years, the cost of living crises and various catastrophic housing situations frequently found her homeless. But after slumlords, the mouldiest box room Herne Hill could offer, and a series of unstable housing situations Tika has found a new flatshare she loves and can call her home.

Moving is expensive, ill-health is expensive, and just existing is expensive. For many years, Tika has contributed her talents to several movements (particularly the swer rights movement) for free or cut-rates. She has been an asset to every community she is a member of and frequently takes on the physical and mental load of many others. Tika is currently hard at work for The People's Letters, a new radical co-operative bookshop in East London. It's a fantastic new opportunity for all involved, but is still finding its feet and often runs on volunteer labour (like many radical bookshops in London).

We would like to show our love, thanks, and support for Tika via a fundraising effort that will help her pay rent through the winter months, build a safety net, and give her space to breathe.

Support your local colorful bisexual icon by donating here, buying her prints at The People's Letters, and giving her illustration work! We will also be hosting a fundraiser in coming weeks, so keep eyes out for that. If you don't have the funds, share this post, donate books to The People's Letters, and spread the word!