Help Sam Transition
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Hi everyone,
Thank you for reading my GoFundMe page
My name is Sam Chester (she/her/they/them), I'm a 29 years old trans-feminine person working full-time as a restaurant supervisor, guest tutor at The Royal College of Art and freelance artist.
I am starting this fundraiser to help me get the resources to access gender-affirming treatments. I feel tremendously happy to be able to live my life openly and I am extremely grateful to be surrounded by supportive friends, family and colleagues. It has been such a freeing and liberating time living as my authentic self and I feel my confidence grow and grow as I start this process.
I have a long history of mental health problems - depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation. These started as a young teenager and have persisted into my adult life. In spite of this I have taken significant steps forward, completing my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in fashion design, almost 2 years with a psycho-therapist. I started living openly as non-binary at 19 when I first moved to London and I always knew I wanted to be more on the feminine side. As I have evolved, it became more apparent to me I needed to live my life as a trans-feminine person and I now live as female full time.
Having a sibling who is also transgender and many friends in the LGBTQ+ community, I have seen first-hand how heartbreaking and frustrating seeking treatments through the NHS can be. I have been on the waiting list for NHS gender care for over a year without any correspondence. Like many other trans people, seeking private care is the only viable option.
Pursuing treatment privately through the London Transgender Clinic, I am on the waiting list to start hormone therapy, hopefully starting before the end of 2022.
I have set up this fundraiser to help finance the cost of hormone therapy and my ultimate goal of having top surgery (breast augmentation)
Costs
Top Surgery: £7150
Hormones: Upfront Fee £200
Year one (monthly x 11 months): £59
Year two (monthly x 12 months): £39
Total: £1317
Laser Hair Removal - Full Body: £1712
Grand Total: £10,179
Fees paid so far:
£500 - Gender Clinic Consultation - Gender Identity Assessment
£500 - Laser Hair Removal (Face) x2
Total: £1500
To be transparent about the costs, I have outlined the expected costs of future procedures and expenses I have already covered myself through this process. These include £500 for a gender identity assessment. Before starting any medical procedures or hormones/surgery, I needed to undergo a psychological assessment by a qualified Gender Specialist who would support my diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Laser hair removal £500 (Full face, x8 sessions) x2 in 2019 + 2021. This was the first medical procedure I decided to undergo. The positive effect this has had on my mental health and self-confidence in my appearance has been really powerful and motivated me to start my transition.
It would mean so much to me if you could donate to this fund to help me get gender-affirming treatment and share my GoFundMe page on any of your socials.
Thank you ♡
Organizer
Sam Chester
Organizer
England