Restore Animaashi: Joe's Lifeline Needs Your Help

I am Joe, a disabled photographer suffering from an unnamed autoimmune problem. My family has moved abroad a nearly 40-year-old boat as a means of staving off the complications I am dealing with as a result of my illness. The particular problem which I am suffering from causes extreme arthritic pain, breathing problems, memory and cognitive problems, and ongoing permanent damage to many tissues within my body. When I am exposed to triggering allergens, my immune system overreacts and attacks my body. The only solution I have to reduce these issues is to remain within a few miles of the ocean as the many thousands of miles of water cause the particles to drop out of the air. The specialists I have seen have been unable to offer any medications or procedures at this time that will even start to manage my condition, and therefore I must take all steps to avoid the triggers.

Our vessel, Animaashi, is starting to show her age and we now have a failure of a major system on board, the fuel tank. Diesel is leaking into our living space and we are needing to make emergency repairs so that we can get back to the ocean. I am unable to do the work myself as I am not flexible and lack the strength to perform the necessary work, so we must go to a yard. The costs to evaluate the problem are around $2,000 and repairs may cost upwards of $20,000 for this project. We also have other major systems such as the cutlass bearing and prop shaft through-hull components which are also in need of replacement to prevent possibly sinking.

While I know that this sounds as if I am asking you to fund a recreational escape, that is far from the truth. I do not have access to traditional employment opportunities due to my medical issues and am left with attempting to sell my photography. My wife and I were operating a business in Michigan for years and if it were not for this medical problem, we would still have our home and the business. Since we closed the physical business last January, I have not been able to sell anywhere near the amount of artwork that we are relying upon for the success of our mission.

Thank you for your time and patronage.