Lou's top surgery fundraiser

Hello! I’ve started this page to raise money for gender affirming top surgery, which I hope to access next year.

All money raised will go toward the cost of my surgery, preliminary appointments, and supporting me through recovery. 

Top surgery is available for free through the NHS, but inadequate provision [ and a frankly horrid system ] mean wait times are currently *several* years long, making public healthcare increasingly untenable for trans folk in the UK. I’ve decided, like so many of us, to access the care I need privately.

The costs are overwhelming, so you've probably noticed a rise in fundraisers like mine.

I've put off asking for support for a while - worried I'm less urgently in need of this than other people I know. [ My chest is relatively small, and this means I ( personally ) do not need to bind every day. I also work from home and am privileged in multiple other ways which mean the consequences of continuing to wait for surgery are proportionally smaller for me than for others. ]

Trans & non-binary people shouldn't have to crowd fund for healthcare. But that's the way things are right now. And the state's failure to provide timely access does result in difficult trade offs :S - I’m too aware our generous community has limited funds to go round. 

With that in mind, I feel really strongly that my callout for support should not reduce help available to others --> This is a request for those who are not splitting funds between so many people, or have the capacity to help me reach my goal without removing support elsewhere <3 [ Basically, if you can only give to 1 fundraiser this month, don't let that be mine! ]

Top surgery alone costs more than £8,000, excluding travel and recovery expenses, and the price of pre-op consultations. I've set my goal at £5,600 as I'll be taking out a personal loan - the largest I can afford - and hope to meet the rest of my costs with your help.

Donations of any amount will mean the world!! And if you can’t afford to give right now, that's OK - I’d be so grateful if you could share my page with any friends/family who might be interested in helping me.

Educating yourself and others about the state of trans rights and healthcare in the UK/locally also matters so much, and I’ve linked below to some pages about this. Let’s get organised and share resources in whichever ways we can <3 

So much love to all of you. And pre-emptively~ Thank you!! Cannot Explain the big comfort and joy this will make possible.

Lou :~)