Help me pay for my breast reduction

Hi everyone! One of my dear friends needs help raising funds to cover the cost of vital breast reduction surgery. Below is a message explaining their situation:

 

"Hi everyone,

 

To kick off 2022, I want to fundraise for a breast reduction.

 

Since I was sixteen, I have experienced severe back-pain, shoulder pain and neck pain because of my breasts and it has only gotten progressively worse. However, the psychological impact has been far worse. Over the last few years I have felt so distressed about my appearance that I isolate myself from others, deliberately avoid my reflection in public and exclusively wear thick clothing even when it is physically uncomfortable to do so in the summer heat. I recently returned to working in the office (after a year of remote working) and the shoulder pain worsened almost instantly from being out all day. After my first day back in the office, I had to spend my evening in bed because my shoulders hurt so intensely.

 

I appreciate that a breast reduction is incredibly expensive, so I want to assure everyone that I explored all options before deciding on surgery. For example, I consulted a therapist, lost over two stones and began a regular exercise programme. Though the weekly therapy were beneficial in helping me address my body image issues, the weight loss failed to reduce my bra size and I remain a 36G.

 

Essentially, this is my last resort.

 

Sadly, due to cuts to healthcare funding, breast reduction surgery is extremely rare to get on the NHS, even though it would be vastly beneficial to both my mental and physical health . I am unable to cover the cost of the procedure myself; I come from a working class household and the money I earn from my job primarily goes towards supporting my family (mainly my mum), which is why I've resorted to GoFundMe to ask for help.

 

Having approached a surgeon (Mark Solomos), I was told I would need to pay £150 for an initial consultation and a minimum of £8,350 for the surgery itself. The additional money raised will go towards GoFundMe's transaction fee of 2.9 percent.

 

I want a a breast reduction because I want to be able to wear a dress without pairing it with a bulky jacket in the summer (!), I want to be able to go gym without weird men leering, and I want to be able to sleep on my chest without feeling like I’m being suffocated! But mainly, I just don’t want to be in pain anymore!

 

If you can spare any money at all, please donate to this fundraiser and share it with your friends, family and acquaintances. I would hugely appreciate it!

 

Thank you."