It takes a great deal of courage to go public again after such a series of setbacks – from financial anxiety to unexplained health issues.

Here is a draft for your fundraising appeal that combines the emotional weight of the situation with the facts, without compromising your dignity.

A fresh start after ruin: when everything falls apart, solidarity counts

Dear friends, acquaintances and supporters,

I am writing to you today because I have reached a point where I can no longer manage on my own.

For years, I ran my small business with passion. We were successful, had a great team and a secure future ahead of us. But then came the pandemic – and with it a chain of events and political decisions that pulled the rug out from under our feet.

The fight for survival

I tried everything to save my company and, above all, my employees. Driven by the hope of securing orders and keeping the business running, I got vaccinated. But the reality was different:

• Slump in orders: Despite all our efforts, orders fell dramatically.

• Cancellations: Existing projects were cancelled without warning.

• Incompetence: Government red tape and a lack of support made survival almost impossible.

The health crisis

On top of the financial worries came the hardest blow: sudden, severe bouts of illness that threw me completely off course. To this day, there are no clear diagnoses, no adequate explanation and no tangible help from the medical profession. This state of uncertainty is sapping my last reserves of strength.

Where I stand today

The result of these years is total ruin. My life’s work has been destroyed, and all that remains is a mountain of debt that blocks any prospect of a fresh start.

I am asking for your help today. Every donation, no matter how small, is a building block for a fresh start. The money will be used to:

1. Cover the most urgent debts and avert financial ruin.

2. Fund medical examinations and treatments so that I can finally regain my health.

3. Enable the chance of a modest, fresh start in life.

I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart who reads, shares or supports my story. At a time when the system has failed, humanity is my last hope.