In September, our beloved friend Emily Deakin was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It’s the kind of news no one expects to ever receive, it entirely stops the world for a moment, and rearranges everything you thought you knew about time, about plans, about what matters most.

We’ve set up this GoFundMe to support Emily & Rufus through the unknowns ahead, so they can focus on what truly matters: healing, rest, and each other. It’s our small way to say: we’ve got you. They would never ask for this — which is exactly why we’re not asking for their permission :)

Emily and Rufus have given endlessly to others— hosting, organizing, and holding space for community, art, and connection. Now it’s our turn to hold them.

This diagnosis has brought a tidal wave of decisions, appointments, and uncertainty — but it is also a great reminder of how much love exists around them. Our hope is that this fund becomes a small piece of stability for them amid the chaos.

No amount is too small, and every dollar helps them worry less about bills and logistics, and more about simply being together — enjoying mornings with the dogs, getting out in nature, embracing good days and working through hard ones, and finding a little light in the middle of it all.

How Your Donation Helps:

Your contributions will go directly toward medical expenses, living costs, and essential care. These include both conventional treatments and the holistic therapies that will help Emily heal and stay strong throughout this journey. Rufus & Emily are still waiting on insurance confirmation, and as you can imagine, that uncertainty only adds to the weight of everything they’re navigating right now. Our goal is to give them a cushion of support—so they can focus on healing and being together, not on paperwork or waiting games.

They’ve built something beautiful for this town — a space, a spirit, a sense of belonging. Now, let’s help build something beautiful for them: a cushion of care, a reminder that they are not alone.

Thank you so much for donating & being generous. It means more than you can imagine.

<3