Support Claire's Family: Fire Recovery Fund

Hello, we are Claire, Mark, Leo and May (and cats Delphine and Freyja).

Originally from England, we have lived in "Beautiful Altadena" for 17 years.

Claire has taught community yoga classes at her home, at other Altadenans homes, and at the country club for at least 15 of those. Four weeks ago, On January 8, 2025, our community was decimated by the Eaton Fire (including where Claire worked). While our main structure did not burn down - due only to Mark and friends pouring water on fires and hot spots all day, our entire back yard, deck, casita and garage with all contents including wedding dress, children's art, baby memory boxes, antiques, treasured items from our travels, etc all lost. Additionally, a large proportion of the house contents will need to be thrown away due to smoke and toxin damage being in the middle of the burn zone and we won't be able to live in our house for at least a year or more.

Someone had said "Good news, your home didn't burn down, bad news is, your home didn't burn down.." We are finding this to be true. While we feel so much gratitude for our amazing 100 year old house standing amongst the rubble, we have come to learn that we are actually at a huge disadvantage with insurance. The amount allotted for "external structures" is woefully short of what will be needed to rebuild after this disaster.

Setting up a gofundme, or indeed asking for any help whatsoever goes completely against what Mark and I have always done as we are fiercely independent, hard-working "keep calm and carry on" Brits - sorry!! But I realize we have been forced to change course with our whole lives, including moving out of state and (Claire) not being able to work as a result, so learning to being vulnerable and yes, asking for help, so deep breath here goes...

We would love to be able to create some new memories and try to cheer up our daughter who has not only lost her home, but been forced out of her school and state midway through final year of middle school - so maybe we can fund some trips and accommodation back in LA for to visit her friends occasionally.

Thank you so much!