Hi! I’m Heather Saliani, Future Sailor Blokzyl’s mom. He is graduating basic for the US Navy October 27th in the Great Lakes. I am a solo mom of 3 boys who are my life - and I do not want to miss this big event! I want to be able to “tap” my son out at his graduation and be there to show him how incredibly proud I am of him.

Being a solo mom on a fixed income comes with its disadvantages and it’s jarring how expensive a trip from NY to IL can be! I don’t want to have to decide between keeping a roof over my kids head / electric on in my home vs seeing my son before he embarks on an amazing journey in the Navy. His brothers and I only have 3 days with him after graduation before he begins his training / school and then is placed on a ship for upward of 9 months (that’s a whole year and a half without seeing him if I don’t make it down there for his graduation).

I work hard, I’m in education. I’m trying my best to juggle life here in NY while also trying to see my son that is 12 hours away from me. I budgeted the cheapest options for traveling, lodging and food and that is what I’m asking for.

It’s a bit more than what the budget is solely because I am counting for the 30% charge that gofundme takes out of the donations.