Advertisement

Struggling father-of-five's fundraising page to 'give his children a happy Christmas' smashes its £2,000 target

The father named the fundraiser 'please help a family in need at Christmas'
The father named the fundraiser 'please help a family in need at Christmas'

A father-of-five who is struggling financially has received more than £2,000 in donations with a fundraiser to help him pay for his family’s Christmas.

Despite working up to 60 hours a week in a warehouse, 32-year-old Ben Buckley said he can only just cover the basics and has “no clue how we are going to provide our kids with a Christmas”.

He set a fundraiser, named "please help a family in need at Christmas", with a target of £2,000 which has now garnered £2,075 and stopped accepting donations.

When donations started coming in, he said: "I wouldn't of gone this route if I had other options I am embarrassed and I'm ashamed.

"A massive thank you to all who have helped so far it really is hugely appreciated and heart warming thank you."

Below a picture of his children, he had written why he was conducting the appeal on GoFundMe.

“I feel awful having to ask for this help,” he said. “I've started this go fund me as I don't know what else to do or where else to turn, I work a low paid job in a warehouse doing between 45 to 60 hours a week which normally is just enough to get us by.”

He then explained how there were issues with his partner’s pregnancy and this led to her taking time off of work.

Following this there have been issues with his pay that have left the family in “a huge panic about Christmas”, adding: “This should be a happy time for us all but under the surface of it all for me and my partner it's nothing but anxiety and worry.

“I beg and plead for some help so I can give my children a happy Christmas.”

The page has received a mixed response since going online.

Some shared messages of support along with donations, though others commented on the amount of money being asked for.

One wrote: “I donated because he is a hard working family man, he is honest about his situation. I hope his family have a super Christmas.”

While others wished him and his family the best over the festive season.

However, some were less sympathetic, questioning the act in its entirety as well as the figure being requested.

One said: “Sorry, but £2,000 is a bit much - what are you going to spend all that on? You can do a great Christmas on far less than that and it's not about what you give, but about what you make it. I would never spend that amount of Christmas and would certainly not expect anyone to fund it for me.”

In regards to the target he previously said: "I don't for a second expect to raise £2000 I just put a figure in the box I'm sorry if I've upset and people that was never my intention."