What We're Doing:

We, the Swim Family, are moving to Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada this summer. Right now, we are processing Visa paperwork through an employer to transfer to their Canadian office. We intend to leave the Bay Area in June, stay with family for part of the summer, and arrive on Vancouver Island in mid-August before our youngest, Awen, starts Kindergarten there in September.

Why We're GoFundIng It: Three Good Reasons

#1: as a family, we are at the intersection of two groups heavily targeted by the current administration: we have two trans folx and at least one autistic person in our household. The likelihood that we will lose access to critical medication, have parental rights jeopardized, or otherwise experience great harm is ever increasing. To do this move quickly, we need your help.

#2: Mental health struggles last year paid for out-of-pocket (and with community help) depleted our savings. Mental healthcare is still our third largest monthly expense. Between the recent emergency and continual expenses of healthcare and Bay Area cost of living, we have no savings to draw on for this move.

#3: Right now, we have a favorable set of circumstances: Fox's workplace is sponsoring our visa paperwork, and both of us can keep our jobs in Canada. However, her industry is targeted by the current administration's legislation. If all the proposed legislation passes, her entire industry could collapse, closing off our easy exit route. 3b: Awen is starting public school in September, and we want her to have minimal disruption during this huge transition in her education.

(bonus reason #4: Vancouver Island is amazing and we're excited to live there!!)

How We'll Do it: The Money Needed to Get Us There

$3000 Canadian Visa fee

$1000 Uhaul trailer and misc moving expenses

$2000 3 weeks without Connor's income at various points during the move

$1000 hire a tax professional to file and pay 2 years' back taxes

(if you are one and wish to donate or defray cost of your services, please reach out!)

$1800 purchasing our friend's SUV, repairing it, and paying for gas during transit

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Stretch Goals

$400 adoption lawyer consultation for Awen+Fox parental adoption (so that Fox's parental rights can't be challenged as the non-natal parent)

$300 - new toys and treats for Awen from the donors!

= $9500

-$3300 in offline donations and incoming tax refund! -> new goal of

$6200

**Thank You**

We've asked for help from some of you in the past, and it made all the difference back then. If you feel moved to donate again or for the first time, you have our unending gratitude. If you read this and send it on to a friend who might be in a position to donate, thank you thank you. I deeply want to be in the position one day to donate to others in need as you are helping us now - hopefully this is a step along that way.

Lastly, if you would like to help but donating money is not a wise idea for you, we have other needs too! You could:

Please reach out for more ideas.