GoFundMe’s and Other Campaigns that folks have told us about:
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Rose Finlay
“I’m a quadriplegic single mom raising two young kids with disabilities. I became disabled in a pool accident at the age of 17. My youngest son has type one diabetes and my other son has ADHD.”
“Unfortunately, the waitlist to obtain government disability support is 6 – 8 months, but disabled Ontarians who fall on hard times can choose MAiD (medical assistance in dying) with a waiting period of only 91 days!! It’s May 23rd today and there are only 36 days left in my 91 day waiting period. Please understand that I do not want to end my life – I want to improve my quality of life back to a standard where my basic needs are met and I’m not at risk. Which is why I have started this GFM.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkG5lGauuNk
Rose’s GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/wheelchair1derwoman-and-her-kids-need-help
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Gwen Jacobs
“It’s eugenics, because they don’t want us to be properly supported and be OK. And if we don’t have family to take care of us, it’s `Please just go and die,”’ said Gwen.
Gwen has Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Autism. After her back was injured in a 2013 car accident, Gwen developed chronic intolerable pain. She uses a walker for mobility and will soon have a wheelchair after a two-year wait.
She cannot access essential treatment for her chronic pain and disabilities, which make it impossible at times to eat, sleep, move or play with her child. Gwen says she fears losing custody if her pain worsens or her support network falters.
Gwen receives $1,694 per month in provincial disability assistance, which barely covers rent and food for her and her daughter, let alone accessibility improvements such as a ramp she needs to get into housing.
Gwen said ICBC and the province have both declined to pay for a treatment course recommended by her doctors that would help desensitize her central nervous system and bring her pain to a more manageable threshold so that she can get surgery for her back injury.
GoFundMe campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/gwen-a-life-worth-living
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Michal Kalizan
From Michal’s Page:
“Recently, I sent hard copy and digital letters to provincial and federal politicians asking for their help to make 24/7 home care possible. As part of this effort, I was shocked and appalled to find out that my situation is actually not all that unique. Across Canada, younger persons with physical disabilities are being locked up into Long-Term Care right under our noses for lack of better options. You can find out more about this by reading my blog post at https://cleverlydisabled.com/2022/10/09/its-time-to-stop-canadas-shameful-practice-of-warehousing-persons-with-disabilities-in-long-term-care-facilities/. Those with the fortitude to fight protest in cages and wage years-long battles with their province in order to be included as full and equal members of the community. Others give up and choose suicide. This is unacceptable and we can no longer turn a blind eye to the flagrant discrimination and human rights violations being perpetrated against persons with physical disabilities.”
To support Michal, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/home-care-for-michal-kaliszan
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Susy Mallin
Introduction by friend Wendy:
As a senior citizen, Susy has faced her fair share of struggles, but her latest predicament has left her in a desperate situation. Susy’s life was once vibrant having performed as a professional musician and also having a successful jewelry business. Susy has severe multiple chemical sensitivities, which means that she is highly sensitive to everyday chemicals found in most homes and buildings. This makes it impossible for her to live in a regular apartment or house, and she is now facing homelessness …
Updated March 24/23
Things have moved forward in an unexpected way. Pressure to leave the hospital as well as not
meeting my gofund goal have prevented me from finding a small house and I will be moving into an apartment April 1st. Time will tell if I can tolerate apartment living as I will have no control over my neighbors lifestyle choices.
I continue to be in need of financial support.
Thank you to all the supporters who gave generously and shared.
My appreciation is heartfelt!
To support Susy, go to https://gofund.me/b42475ec
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Roger Foley
Roger Foley publicly released audio recordings of hospital staff offering him an assisted death and outlining how much it costs to keep him in hospital instead of getting the home care he desires and requires.
His case attracted the attention of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Cataline Devandas Aguilar, when she visited Canada in spring 2019. Following her visit to Canada, she issued a statement that she had “received worrisome claims about persons with disabilities in institutions being pressured to seek medical assistance in dying.” She urged the federal government to investigate and prevent such cases.
To support Roger, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/roger-foleys-assisted-life-fund
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Tracy Thompson
Since Thompson’s illness (Long COVID) is not clearly outlined in the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) eligibility, which currently grants a single applicant a maximum amount of $1,169 a month, she believes it could take years to qualify – something that many Ontarians who’ve applied to the program say is not uncommon. Even if Thompson did qualify, she says the whole sum of the monthly support would, at best, cover her rent.
So far, Thompson has sought one doctor’s approval for MAiD and is waiting to hear back from a second specialist.
To support Tracy, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/9apnu9-medical-treatment
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Madeline Nerdfighter
March 9, 2023 by Madeline Nerdfighter
New podcast episode: “Seeming okay” the GREAT MISUNDERSTANDING. Seeming okay is not the same as being okay. I do my best to explain what’s the what with that and the harm it can do.
I’ve been struggling emotionally with the Everest of trying to figure out how to stay alive long enough for a human rights case. … Still no mainstream news organization in Canada has done a story on what’s happening to me. How do I live long enough for human rights case without that National coverage to bring in enough GoFundMe money to last that 5 years I’m told it will take?
“Madeline isn’t just fighting a debilitating disease. She’s up against a system that legislates her into poverty and denies access to the only treatment that works.”
link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-3-the-elephant-in-the-room/id1566930673?i=1000525384340
To support Madeline, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/MadelinesMiracle
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Shahnaz Stri
I have a chronic illness, my one and only kidney is failing. It’s not in failure. The one joy in my life that always uplifts me, aside from friends and family, is riding my recumbent e-trike.
I want to ride across Canada in 2026. The plan is to start on Vancouver Island and ride east all the way to Newfoundland. I will be riding 100 kilometres a day.
To make this a reality, I will need, about $20000. Which will be for the ride itself. Costs will go towards, accommodation, food, medical supplies and spare parts for the trike. I am also looking for sponsors to support my ride across the country. Looking at the Kidney Foundation of Canada and Toronto Bike Brigade and anyone else who wants to.
To support Shahnaz, go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/Need-To-Eat-Monthly
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Denise
Denise is disabled, with a diagnosis of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and spinal challenges that have her using a motorized mobility chair, as well as several other complex chronic medical conditions.
An excellent advocate for herself and her community, Denise has been actively seeking suitable housing (with air free of volatile organic compounds and chemicals from commonly used products, smoke and mould) for seven years, to no avail.
Unable to find suitable housing, she is now partway through the approval process to seek MAID, or medical assistance in dying.
We are seeking to raise $100,000 to help Denise rent/make a downpayment on an accessible and suitable stand-alone home in Toronto close to all the medical services she continues to need on a regular basis to manage her conditions.
We are deeply concerned that individuals like Denise, whose MCS is a recognized disability under the Canadian Human Rights Act, are being left with no option but to die to reduce suffering.
To support Denise, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/housing-not-MAID
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Social Housing for folks with MCS
Our preliminary social housing project is being planned for Ontario, Canada. We’re developing a transformational accessible live-work project (rent geared to income, not to generate profit) that will accommodate 5-10 people.
The stretch goal may involve the purchase of an appropriate Public Service zoned property or a much larger leased property, and accessibility renovations to accommodate 20-30 people. To protect the privacy of residents the final location/s may not be disclosed but we hope to share some of the practical details as it develops, so that others can use this information to scale and replicate these transformational housing models too!
~ “Cat Castle” is an interdependent peer-led housing project. Some of the disability advocates we are consulting with on this social housing development include: Seriously Sensitive To Pollution (or on FB ), MCS Awareness Month , Wendys House , Memes For Inconvenient Disabilities , EnviroHOPE Environmental Health on Planet Earth and others, as well as many disabled individuals with lived expertise, Housing Services Act housing providers/managers, and tenants rights/poverty rights advocates. As well as observing the AODA/OHRC/CHRC, public health/OBC, and other legislation and applicable bylaws.
~ Teri Bell Arts is an eco-arts social enterprise – we do good works that are usually left to charitable whims, collectively, and we pay applicable sales (and other) taxes. If you’d rather that your “surprise in the mail” is a tax receipt for a charitable donation we strongly urge you to consider Environmental Defence Canada for your charitable giving – and please stay tuned to Teri Bell Arts : our long-term aim is a land trust!
p.s. Did you know that there are also no long-term care (or general healthcare) facilities that are accessible to people with severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivities MCS?
This is an edited version of this campaign. For a longer write-up and to support this effort visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/teri-bell-arts-cat-castle
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Other fundraisers:
Q Needs A Wheelchair
Q’s current chair – a manual second-hand titanium wheelchair – was bent at the frame & axle by cops during a land defence arrest, and it’s been wheeling around on that now for about four years.
Basically, the current one’s a nightmare, was not suited to Q’s body to start with, and actively harmful to use now, and a new one is needed that properly supports Q’s back, hips, shoulders, and general wonky body. This requires a custom-fit, lightweight everyday manual wheelchair with features like a supportive cushion and backrest, and durable rigid frame.
Custom manual wheelchairs can run anywhere from $6k-$30k+ depending on the level of customisation needed. The initial cost for a fitting specialist will be $175, which will guide the process for selecting the right wheelchair and supportive features; while we don’t have exact amounts yet, we know a wheelchair that will best serve Q will be at least $15k, with a stretch goal of $35k (this is closer to the cost we’re anticipating).
To support Q, visit https://chuffed.org/project/wheelchairforq
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Help Regulate Compassionate Medical Psilocybin
Spencer Hawkswell and 2 others are organizing this fundraiser.
Help us regulate medical psilocybin (Magic Mushrooms) for medical and compassionate use in Canada!
We’re looking to fundraise $20,000 to fund our legal challenge!
“…proposed amendments will make these patient plaintiffs eligible for MAiD but still prohibit Psilocybin, a potential supplemental or alternative treatment to MAiD.”
“We should never find ourselves in a situation where we’ve made it easier for a patient to access MAID than to access psilocybin,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, in this article in the TORONTO STAR.
To support this effort, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-regulate-compassionate-medical-psilocybin?fbclid=IwAR1RdmoJZmO1dVijpEbF4KVc6j8TsNb-fPh91JTKZlQecfjWjRmLyn0ImB4