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Aim: Reuniting with my mum and my siblings: A journey home after more than a decade apart.
Reuniting with my mum and my siblings: A journey home after more than a decade apart.
Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers.
My name is Tony Packham, and I’m reaching out with a heavy heart and a glimmer of hope. In the latter part of last year, I lost my beloved dad after several years of health issues. This has left me with an unbearable ache in my heart, for years I have been battling my own health problems whilst trying to earn enough money to get home with my kids to visit my mum and dad, siblings, kids and my grandkids. Last year I was desperate, conversations between my dad and I made me feel that the time was running out. I couldn’t get enough money together for just me to get back and see everyone. And then my dad passed away following a fall. I couldn’t believe it, I had lost my beloved dad, the pain of not being able to say goodbye in person, after failing to get back to see him had left a deep ache in my soul.
For almost 12 years, financial struggles and health issues have kept me stranded far from my home and my family in the UK, unable to visit my parents, siblings and grandchildren, or share precious moments with them. Now with my dad gone I am desperate to see my mum before it is too late, to give her a hug, and to make memories with the whole family that we can share and remember forever.
Life for so many of us has not been easy these last few years. Like so many, we’ve faced financially hardships that have made even the thought of travelling to the other side of the world an absolute pipe dream. Every penny I have earned has gone on keeping my family afloat, leaving no room for a short weekend away, let alone a journey across the world back to the UK with my family. Time is slipping away; it is hard enough speaking with my mum and not being there to give her a hug when she is feeling down. I can’t bear the thought of never seeing her again, of her not seeing her grandchildren, or without showing her how much she means to us.
This crowdfunding campaign is my plea for help to make this reunion possible. The funds we hope to raise will pay for the airfare for my family to fly back to the UK, and for the hire of a motorhome for us to live in as we spend time with everyone. We have thought about hotels, but realise that hotels would blow the budget. With a motorhome we can park up outside mum’s and spend so much more quality time with her.
My goal is to raise around £10,000 to cover the costs of flights, transport and the motorhome hire. If I could find 10,000 generous people who could donate just £1, or $1 each, we could easily reach our target. Your support, no matter how small, will mean the world to us. Every donation will bring us closer to that big family hug, a time of laughter and tears, memories of my dad, and the start of our healing process.
Because I suffer with an illness called fibromyalgia, the thought of asking strangers for money, and the thought of flying again brings on a panic attack. I know that the next time I see my family in the UK will be my last time, but with the strength of my family I know I will be able to combat the anxiety attacks and the unbearable pain.
Fibromyalgia sufferers know that good things in our lives that bring happiness can relieve some of our everyday struggles.
From the bottom of my heart I thank everyone who has read my story, donated, or shared my campaign.
This isn’t a ‘jolly’ to see my family. As a fibromyalgia sufferer I have accepted the limitations in my life and live within those limitations. I would never have the mental or physical strength to go back on my own, I will need my family around me for that journey.
Thank you so much for anything you can do for us.
I thank you will my whole heart.
With my deepest gratitude.
Tony Packham
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 22nd July 2025 at 7:17am