Hello to my dearest friends, family, therapies clients and tai chi students!

I invite you to please donate €25 Euro (or more!) to my HIP-CROWD-FUND while also giving to 2 Cancer charities!

MY DOUBLE HIP-REPLACEMENT (NB. my new hips will be nicknamed Thelma and Louise!!) : 

WHY am I doing a Go Fund Me ?
I'd like to raise the shortfall of funds before the first round of surgery scheduled towards the end of Jan 2021.
Jan 1st will be my 50th birthday so I'd also like to reach my target before then which will be a wonderful birthday gift!! Please take a minute or two to read my fund raising story below. THANKYOU so much for your generosity in advance - from Michelle (Gupta) and my new hips Thelma and Louise!! xx

Some of you will know that I have been living with arthritis in both my hips for the past 3-4 years and, despite being able to manage day-to-day for long while through swimming (and rather comedic aqua-aerobics!), physical therapies and tai chi/chi kung, it has now reached a time where the pain levels and physical immobility are causing me major problems. I am now no longer able to walk (or should I say, waddle!) more than 5-10 mins without pain nor effectively do what I love - teach tai chi and give physical therapies. Nor can I wiggle it on the dance floor!
I now need BOTH HIPS TO BE REPLACED in Jan and March 2021 involving €30k of medical costs and around 5 months total recovery time. Thankfully, a large proportion of the cost will be covered by the HSE (Irish version of NHS) so I hope to raise the shortfall of €5000  through my hip-crowd fund!! 

"BUT MICHELLE, YOUR TARGET IS €6250!"
Here's the deal! Your kind donation will not only go towards my medical fund but 10% of all proceeds* will also go to TWO charities who offer invaluable services to those going through cancer - both of which are very dear to my heart. I've chosen to launch this appeal during October as it is Breast Cancer Awareness month:

1) Cork Cancer Care Centre - with whom I was a volunteer for 2 years
2) Cancer Hair Care UK - my sister Julia and her dedicated team of hair loss specialists.
(NB. *10% of proceeds after Go Fund Me transaction costs of 3%).

ABOUT ME: I am a Holistic Therapist and Tai Chi instructor based in Cork, Ireland for nearly 11 years now. I have played an active part in my local community not only through my work but various voluntary and fundraising projects including :

- I gave free physical therapies, incl oncology massage, to the users of the Cork Cancer Care Centre (previously The Girls Club) for over 2 years. 
- Funds raised for Cork Penny Dinners, feeding Cork's homeless.
- I raised nearly €4000 for the Hope Foundation, a Cork-founded charity for street children in Kolkata, and traveled to India with them
- I have helped to run various workshops and fundraisers with my sister Julia's charity, Cancer Hair Care UK.
- I worked with Playback Community Theatre group for over 2 years working on collaborative theatre projects with various organisations incl the YMCA Cork. 
- Through my work I have run workshops with various organisations incl Irish Guide Dogs Assoc and the Cork City Partnership.

BONUS FOR €25 Euro DONORS!!
As I'm a dab-hand with a sewing machine (I was a Textiles Graduate and Fashion Buyer in my former life!), I am pledging to send all donors of €25 Euro or more a hand-made, reversible, washable cotton face-mask by Christmas! Details of how to avail of this offer will be in my THANKYOU email!! (Offer applies to UK/ Ireland/ mainland Europe donors only).