Hiya! My name is Tiersha and I’m raising funds to support my dad after he suffered a sudden stroke.

My dad is 55 and self-employed in construction. He’s worked physically demanding jobs since he was a teenager. Super long days, hard labour, just getting on with it. He’s never really had the chance to rest, rarely takes time off, and has barely even left the country. He’s always just worked, paid his bills, and supported himself and his family.

Earlier this week, everything changed for us and I’ve suddenly seen my dad as someone I need to look after, not who looks after me.

He had a stroke caused by a blood clot in his brain, completely out of the blue. He’s now in a stroke unit and starting his recovery, but he’s dealing with a lot of the symptoms you’d expect with a stroke and he’s struggling.

But with his condition, he can’t work right now.

And because he’s self-employed, there’s no sick pay or financial safety net.. his income has just stopped overnight.

He has two children at home to support. And we’re looking into benefits and other support, but these things take time, and the bills don’t wait.

What’s hardest to see is that even now, in hospital, struggling to get his words out, my dad is worrying about getting back to work. He’s a very proud man and would never ask for help himself.

So I’m asking for him. (Which is just as hard because I am an eldest child who hates asking for help - IYKYK)

We’re hoping to raise money to help cover costs over the next few months while he focuses on recovery and we figure out what the future looks like. This will go towards his bills, food, and day-to-day expenses during this really uncertain time.

If you’re able to donate, even a small amount, it would mean so much to us. And if you can’t, sharing this would help more than you know.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can give.

We’re taking things one day at a time and staying hopeful