On the 17/03/2025, reluctantly I had to return to London.

Many people are aware that I suffer from Anorexia. Although I am aware that I am ill, due to the medical professionals especially the Eating Disorders Clinic at South West London, St Georges, refusing to support me has given me the false sense that I am actually well. Over the period of 13/03/2025 and to the 17/03/2025 I was found unconscious several times with my wonderful dog, Precious barking to alert people.

If you would like to continue to support the two causes that I am currently fundraising for: StreetVet and The Listening Place, I would be so grateful. I was about 10 km from Portsmouth when I had to return.

I am planning to sell my drawings to aid these charities. If you have anything you would like to draw, I can do people but I don't want to give them a big nose, unless they deserve it!

Please see the pictures that I have drawn, not the full list, each picture takes over 20 hours to do. I use pencil, graphite, chalk and other black/grey and white materials. I do not know how to do colour! My artist name is Taka.

My artist account for Insta is: @preciouscraftsbyme

https://www.instagram.com/preciouscraftsbyme/

This is a Summary version of why I am doing this walk for StreetVet:

Precious is a rescue dog adopted by me in March 2020 as a celebration of embracing my true self after coming out as trans. I faced a difficult year in 2019, losing family, job, home, and friends, but gained liberation by living authentically. After the breakdown of my marriage, I moved through temporary accommodations, enduring transphobia, which led to choosing homelessness for safety.

Having been homeless before, Precious and I survived the streets with the help of StreetVet, an organisation providing essential support. Precious became an assistance dog, detecting my seizures and low blood sugar. StreetVet's ongoing support enabled us to stay together.

Now, I wish to give back by raising funds for StreetVet through a walk. Improved mobility and a new accessible flat have brought some stability. Donations through JustGiving go directly to StreetVet, as I aim to make a difference for others facing similar challenges.

Content Warning: The details of my story may be distressing to some readers.

Precious is a rescue dog, I adopted her on 22nd of March 2020, when she was just 8 months old. She was a gift to myself—a celebration of finally embracing who I am. It took me 33 years to truly become me. On the 22nd of March 2019, I came out as trans.

Though 2019 was an incredibly difficult year—marked by the loss of my family, my job, my home, and many friends—it was also a year of liberation. For the first time, I could live authentically without the burden of hiding who I truly was.

After the breakdown of my marriage, I found myself moving from one temporary accommodation to another, unsure of where I’d sleep each night. Would I get a hot meal? A safe place to rest? The uncertainty was overwhelming.

In February 2020, I finally secured permanent accommodation in Peckham, South East London.

However, my relief was short-lived. Within days, I faced relentless transphobia. I lived in constant fear, feeling isolated and vulnerable. By May 2020, I could no longer endure the abuse. The 10 to 15 incidents a day. Shouts, taunts and even stones being hurled at me simply because I am trans. On one occasion a guy imitated holding a gun and shooting me on another occasion I had someone do it with a knife. After a sexual assault 300 metres from my home.

In a desperate decision, for my own safety and for my dog. I chose to sleep on the streets, where I felt safer, in Brighton and in Central London.

Southwark Council said 'I had a safe space and a home'.

This wasn’t my first time experiencing homelessness. Between the ages of 14 and 20, I lived on the streets of Central London and Birmingham, fleeing abuse from the Catholic Church in Ireland. I have no connection with my family. Despite legal protections for people fleeing violence, I found that authorities often fail to provide the help they promise. In my case, I was denied assistance because I technically had a “home”—a place I could no longer safely live.

Precious and I spent about eight months homeless on the streets of Brighton and Central London, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. No hostel would accept me because of Precious, but I refused to give her up. She was my anchor. During this time, I connected with StreetVet, an incredible organisation that provided us with food, veterinary care, vaccinations, warm blankets, toys, and everything we needed for her to survive. Their support was a lifeline, and I can’t express how much their care meant to us.

The overwhelming shock of everything, including the amount of transphobia, led to me being hospitalised for more than a month.

When I was discharged months later, I was placed in a flat that was inaccessible for someone relying on a wheelchair, which I now needed due to worsening mobility issues which was not helped by the autoimmune diseases I suffer from.

Precious has been my constant companion through it all. After I left the hospital, she instinctively became my assistance dog. She alerts others when I have seizures and low blood sugar. She keeps me calm in new environments, as I have autism and other learning challenges. She knows when I’m anxious and comforts me with her unconditional love.

StreetVet’s ongoing support has been life-changing. Without them, I might have been forced to give Precious up. Their volunteers not only cared for Precious but also ensured that we could stay together, even during my most challenging times. Their kindness and understanding made me feel safe and valued.

Precious is everything to me. She gives me purpose and joy every single day. I cherish waking up to her sloppy kisses, even if it’s a battle to claim my space in bed! For many homeless individuals, their pets are their entire world. For me, Precious is my family.

Since January 2024, I’ve been receiving specialised injections to treat my autoimmune conditions. Over time, my mobility has improved, and I’ve been out of the wheelchair since September. Despite this progress, last week (20th December 2024) I was given an accessible flat which I’m taking.

This accessible flat is important as my condition could worsen, and the medication I rely on, though currently effective, could suddenly be rejected by my body.

Now, I want to give back. I’m doing this walk to raise funds for StreetVet, an incredible organisation that helps people and their pets in need. Without donations, they can’t continue their vital work. This walk will be a challenge for me, but it’s my way of saying thank you for the support they’ve given us.

If you’re in the South, along the South West Coast, West of England, Wales, the North West, or Scotland, Precious and I would love to meet you during our journey. She truly is an amazing dog.

Please know that all donations made through JustGiving go directly to StreetVet. I don’t have access to their funds, unless it is through my crowdfunding page.

Thank you for your support, and thank you for helping me make a difference for others like me.

For our safety, I will only use public transport when we encounter dangerous roads with fast-moving vehicles and nowhere safe for us to walk, or when we are running low on food and water. I will always be transparent by reporting these instances in my daily updates.

Links:

www.justgiving.com/page/sv (StreetVet)

www.justgiving.com/page/tlp (The Listening Place)

https://www.justgiving.com/team/sv-tlp (Team Page:)

Updates will also be regularly updated here and on our walking

instagram: @stop_look_feel

Precious has her own Instagram is: @preciousasweetdog

You can also contact me by email:

stop.look.feel@gmail.com

Thank you for your support, and thank you for helping me make a difference for others like me.

What StreetVet does:

Victims of the UK homelessness epidemic often have scant support, except for, in a growing number of cases, the companionship of their pets.

Many have had their pets since before losing their homes, which makes their bond even more profound, such that their pet's well-being is a life-shaping priority. Our volunteer vets and vet nurses provide accessible fundamental veterinary care. We vaccinate, microchip, treat for fleas and worms, prescribe pain relief, help fight infections, perform surgeries and sometimes just sit and listen. You can find out more about their work or support them in other ways by visiting: https://www.streetvet.co.uk