Help Grace get gender affirming care

Hello! My name's Fox and I'm raising funds to help my wonderful partner Grace get the gender-affirming care she deserves ️‍️‍⚧️✊️‍

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Why we need your help

Too many of us know first-hand that trying to get trans healthcare covered by the NHS is almost impossible.

Grace has been on the waiting list since 2018 and is yet to be given her first appointment.

And with the average wait time now at almost six years (and rapidly rising), we don't anticipate she'll get seen anytime soon.

In that time, Grace has managed to access hormone therapy and hair removal treatment privately, but these treatments have taken a massive chunk out of her savings.

She's now looking to the next steps in her transition:

Bottom surgery can cost up to £20k alone, while FFS costs up to £10k. What can't be measured is how much relief and peace of mind these would bring her.

Grace is open to travelling abroad for these surgeries, which can make things cheaper, but that will incur travel and insurance costs and may involve extra trips for follow-up.

All that aside, we're feeling hopeful we can get her there in the next few years if we save every penny, put on some fundraiser events and ask for all the help we can get.

I realise it's a pretty high goal to set, but realistically that's the minimum this will cost. And we will be thrilled if we manage to get even partway there.

In the incredible event that we go over our goal or the surgeries cost less than we anticipate, every unused penny will be donated to trans charities.

Times are tough and if you would struggle to contribute at the moment, please don't! We won't be the slightest bit offended.

But if you have some spare pennies and want to help, we will be more grateful than you can imagine.

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About the amazing Grace

I know I'm biased but Grace truly is the best of us.

Those of you who know her well will know how generous she is – and unlikely to ask for help in return*!

Grace spent most of her career in social care before recently moving to the public sector and is still on a very low income. Obviously myself and her loved ones are going to do all we can to help, but we can't do it alone.

For many of us, Grace was the first friendly face we saw at the Bristol and Southwest Polyam Social Group, which she co-founded over ten years ago.

From starting up the Queer Clothes Swap, to spending years on the front lines protesting and fundraising for P@lestine** and trans rights, Grace has always gone above and beyond for our community.

She currently spends most of her lunch breaks volunteering with the White Ribbon Project to teach men how to help end violence against women and girls.

I've lost track of how many people she's happily let crash on the couch, helped move house, got set up in the queer community, supported through breakups and health issues, done DIY for and just generally fed and cuddled!

I love her to pieces and I'm constantly amazed at the depth of her kindness, open-mindedness and dignity – even in the face of the constant bigotry and injustice she experiences as a trans woman.

As a very modest person, she understandably feels a bit weird about asking for help, which is why I'm taking as much stress off her hands as possible.

If you are one of the many people whose lives she has improved in some small way, please do what you can to show her that you care xxx

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5 Extra reasons to donate

One is a big cuddly ball of love... the other is a cat :D

*Some of you may remember that I tried to raise funds for her years ago but she got all shy and asked me to cancel the fundraiser. You'll be pleased to hear that she's fully on board this time!

**Don't ask me why that word triggers extra security questions :(