Please help Athena and her children

Fundraiser for Athena Forest and her children to support them in a time of crisis.

Like so many others, Max and Athena’s family spent this Christmas unwell with a bug. Max had it the worst, but he was getting over it. Then on the morning of New Year’s Day his health suddenly dramatically declined, and while waiting for the ambulance which took 45 minutes to arrive, Max died.

The shock and devastation for Athena and the children of losing Max is difficult to put into words. Their lives have been shattered on every level.

For those of you who don’t know them personally, they are the loveliest, most kind-hearted family. Max was the most loving and dedicated daddy to their babies, Leaf (3) and Meadow (1), and such a wonderful and loving stepdad to Ruby (14) and Lion (8) - just the best dad and stepdad any child could have.

Having lived on the road until recently, the family were in the challenging but exciting early stages of setting up a smallholding. They recently relocated from Wiltshire to Devon to rent some land from a farmer and they were working hard to get things up and running with a comfortable living space to see them through the winter. This was their dream and together they were making it happen.

Max’s sudden and unexpected death means this dream has now gone. As a full-time mum-of-four home educating her older children, Athena was entirely reliant on Max. Without him the family can’t continue living where they were. So not only has Athena lost her beloved husband and best friend - who was her world, her everything, practically and in all ways - but she has lost their shared dream, the life that was so important to them and that they were working so hard for, their special little corner of the world they were carving out together as a family.

Athena is the most gentle person I have ever met, the kindest, sweetest, most devoted mother. While still struggling to emotionally process what has happened she is now facing the additional nightmare of having no money for food, no income, and nowhere for her family to live.

Please help us to help her out of this situation.

Money raised through this fundraiser will go towards the costs of Max's funeral, the family's basic day-to-day living during this initial traumatic period of adjustment, and securing somewhere for them to live.

This loving family has had their world ripped apart by this tragedy and its devastating impact on their lives. Please give anything you can to support them. Please share widely. Together we can lift them up and help them to somehow get through this horrendous time.

I know everyone is struggling financially at the moment but anything you can contribute, however small, will make a difference and is deeply appreciated. With the support of her friends, local community and wider online community, Athena will be able to survive this initial nightmarish stage and find a way to keep going.

Thank you