Help Kayla Release Yumi's Ashes in Japan

Hello, everybody.

To those of you who know myself, or knew Yumiko Wu, you know that she heartbreakingly passed by suicide in November of 2020.

Her family gave me all of her ashes, and I have since held onto them this many years later.

Because no one expected a loss this huge, we couldn’t gather the funds for a true memorial for her. We had no other option but a small group of her close friends and family to gather together in the Japanese section of the International Peace Gardens to share our memories and mourn together, free of charge. Although still special, I don’t believe this is the memorial Yumiko Wu truly deserved. She dedicated her much too short life to putting everyone’s needs before her own. When Yumi wasn’t helping everyone around her, she was spending her time alone planning on how she could better people’s lives the next time they were with her.

Before Yumi left us, her and I had a plan to go to Japan together, and saved $10,000 each during the pandemic. After she unexpectedly passed, my world got flipped upside down, and all the money I’d saved up for our precious trip together had disappeared to bills and survival.

Yumi was Japanese and adored the culture her entire life, but never had the opportunity to visit and see all the beautiful sights Japan has to offer.

After years of holding onto her ashes, I’ve decided it’s time for her to be free in the one place she always wanted to be, but never could. When her family gave me her ashes initially, I never imagined myself letting her go. I am sure you can imagine how big a deal this is on my own personal journey to healing.

Because my birthday is so close to both Christmas and New Year’s, I understand getting double the presents during the most busy time of year can be tough. That’s why I’ve decided to set up this GoFundMe—you see, I no longer want, nor need presents. What I really need is to release my best friend and soul sister into the serene forests of Japan, and for this to be both a memorable and healing experience for myself as well.

That is much bigger a gift to me than any item could ever replace.

Any amount you can muster up this holiday season means the world to me, and to Yumi and her loved ones.

Thank you so much,

Kayla.