Hi, my name is Kym.

For almost three years I have dedicated all my time and effort into creating exceptional escape room experiences for people to enjoy. But I am struggling. That’s never an easy thing to admit, let alone publicly. I made a commitment to my passion and creating something to be proud of but I am on the precipice of losing it all.

Creating this page has not been an easy decision and one that I have been wrestling with for a long time. My fear is that I take this step and I fail; there’s no support out there, and I have humiliated myself in asking for it. But really, when I am at risk of losing it all anyway could I honestly forgive myself for not trying absolutely anything at all to make it work?

I am painfully aware there are millions of more worthy causes than helping one person to save their small business and this is part of my struggle to take this step. But if I don‘t even try then how can I claim to have tried my best?

All the games I have created have started as a whirlwind of ideas in my head which through the support, belief and hardwork of my loved ones have become a reality. I have been incredibly fortunate in the support, love and trust placed in me by those around me all in a bid to enable me to realise and actualise my dreams.

Like so many others. this pandemic has hit me hard. It has left me with some very difficult choices to make, both personally and professionally. I contemplated how personal versus professional that this page should be, but I have made the decision to continue with the same ethos I have since the start of this journey; honest and up front.

Starting this request for funding and support is not something I have undertaken lightly. I likened asking for this support to selling my dignity (to which my mum replied, do you really need your dignity though?) and you know what, she is right. Given the choice between watching my dreams wither and die and losing everything I, and those around me, have worked so incredibly hard for, or sucking up my pride and asking for help, no matter how small, with the real chance of it ensuring all the sacrifice and hard work doesnt go to waste. I have shelved my pride and I’m all in.

I need this support in order to ensure I dont sink, to ensure it hasnt all been in vain and in order to stand back up, dust myself off and continue to make people smile.

I never started making escape rooms to make money, my goal was to work in something that chanelled my creativity and storytelling into a product that brought people together, that made people happy and that I could bring my crazy and my creativity together and make something good that I can be proud of. And I am proud, immensely so, of all that has been achieved. From nothing grew a seed that sits proudly in the Top 10 UK Escape Rooms, and in the Top 5 Kent Escape Rooms.

To date I have created, designed and built The World Fair Hotel, The World Fair Hotel EXTREME, The Abandoned Cottage, The Krevokar Programme/Krevokar EXTREME, Christmas : An Elfy Adventure, Director’s Cut, Neverland, Christmas : Elfy Strikes Back, The Hunt and Operation Paranormal Research Anomaly Taskforce. All games have had incredible feedback and been rated 5*.

I have billions of more ideas and games to create but I am at a stumbling block. My personal resources and ways of investing to create my games has run dry, which would not be an issue as I’m incredibly humbled to say that each game has been a success, but, after almost 5 months of enforced closures the lack of income has hit hard. I am in desperate need of help.

The money that I am looking to raise is to ensure I can continue. I am hoping to secure new premises, the amount of my goal is the deposit required to secure a new site. The current home of my games is due to be demolished in one years time. This countdown coupled with the ever increasing debts incurred from having no income will undoubtedly spell the end for my escape room journey.

I appreciate and understand this request for funding will not be to everyones liking, and for that I do apologise, its not something I ever pictured myself doing. But, if selling my soul this way is the difference between the last three years of my life (and those who have supported me) being a waste, or the lifeline to keep this dream afloat; well I’m going to do my best to kick back against the tide. I will not let this go without a fight. I owe it to everyone that has stood by my side when I’ve cried over a puzzle, when I’ve almost sawn off a limb, when I’ve electrocuted myself, glued my hands together, got covered in paint, for all the times I’ve missed family and friends events and milestones because I’ve put work ahead of everything else, for all the hours and hours of slog my family and friends have sacrificed to help me create my dreams. For all the heartache and sadness. For all the amazing memories shared with customers. For all the incredible reviews.

I am by no means stating I have walked this path alone, or that I am the only cog in the success of my games. Without so many others my games would not be what they are, but this is me asking for help because if this fails, it falls down around me.

If me losing my dignity by asking for this help is the price I have to pay to keep this dream alive, then bring it on!

I would really appreciate absolutely anything you can spare, no matter how small or insignificant you might feel it is. Any support takes me one step closer to be able to continue.

I pledge that those who choose to offer any support will receive their donation back in credit form to use against any of my games.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single person that has believed in me and this ridiculous project that has turned into a 5* business with over 800 reviews and tens of thousands of customers!

So often I hear, ‘There’s nothing to do in Dover.’ Well people like me ARE investing everything into places like Dover, we’re risking it all to try and provide something for the local community. Small businesses will die as a result of a lack of support from local councils, from falling through the cracks in government support and schemes. I implore you, if you want to keep those small businesses alive, if you want people to continue to take the risk in small towns, support local, start small and make someone’s dreams come true.