This diary is part of an ongoing fundraiser for Kossack Fineena — see the kickoff diary for more background: Help Fineena Breathe Easier
Fineena has to drive a car without air conditioning during the hot and humid summers in Charlotte, North Carolina. For most people, this would be a minor inconvenience, but Fineena also suffers from COPD, which she’s had since she was young. In her own words:
I have COPD & no health insurance. I've had breathing issues my whole life. It is the worst when I'm hot - as in a car with no AC. Frequently, it causes me to cough to the point, I have to pull into a parking lot until it stops & can catch my breath. Inhaler is no help with that much coughing going on. … I worry that I'm going to pass out while driving or swerve while coughing & get into a wreck.
Fineena needs our help to raise $3,000 for a new car
Her current car is a health hazard and could lead to more expensive medical bills for Fineena in the long run. Fortunately, her mechanic was able to find a used car in good condition with a relatively low mileage and, most importantly, a working AC. More details are in the fundraiser kickoff diary, Help Fineena Breathe Easier.
A working AC also means that Fineena's two Airedales, Julia and O’Henry, will be comfortable when riding in the car. One of the recommendations for Airedales is that they get vigorous exercise frequently. It’s hard to do that when you're already panting and sweating and your person is coughing extensively and worried she might get into a wreck or black out.
Fineena has put down a $300 deposit which will reserve the car for her until this coming Tuesday (5/22). Other people are also interested in the car, though, and the seller may not be around later in the week, so there’s a bit more urgency now than before this fundraiser started.
$3,000 will cover the car’s purchase price and also all applicable taxes and registration fees.
Update 5X: GOAL MET!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
As of Friday, this community had raised $1,185 of the $3,000 needed through two fundraiser diaries on Friday. Not just 1, not 2, but THREE matches were met by Friday evening! Huge thanks to everyone who donated, commented, tipped, rec’d or shared the diaries on social media!
As mentioned in the title, there is a fourth match of $300 match on offer. That means every $1 donated will become $2 once that match is met and Fineena will have raised $1,800 towards her goal.
Today, multiple matches were met and Fineena reached her goal amount! Thanks to everyone who donated, matched funds, helped keep the diary visible, shared links on social media, tipped, recommended, left comments, and contributed in one way or another to this effort.
Thank you!
How you can help Fineena
The most important thing you can do to help Fineena is to share links to her fundraiser on social media. Sharing helps more people find out about her fundraiser and either donate if they’re able to or pass the links around further.
You can also donate to Fineena's fundraiser directly:
- Fineena has PayPal, and her email address is palskaren at aol dot com.
- She also has a page on the YouCaring fundraiser platform: Help Karen Get a Car (they take a fee and it takes longer to get the funds)
Any amount helps, no matter how small. Equally as important as donating financially, and arguably more so, is helping to get the word out. Recs, tips and shares on social media all help to keep this fundraiser going.
Thanks everyone.