Hi my name is Denis and I'm fundraising for Svetlana, a fellow parishioner at the Orthodox Church in my home town of Varese, Italy. Svetlana can't work for health reasons but is facing administrative payments she can't afford and even a possible eviction from her home - all as a result of a legal and administrative quagmire that I'm hoping to help her resolve.

I'm adding to the efforts of others in the church community to help her out. Here's the story.

Svetlana came over to Italy 7 years ago, to work as a carer. Unfortunately her employer mismanaged her immigration status - which means the system doesn't recognise her as having worked and made social insurance contributions here.

As a result, she doesn't have the residential status she should otherwise be entitled to. Among various problems, it means having to pay Euro 2,000 each year to renew her health card. She only receives a small pension and is disabled, so she can't work and can't meet this payment without help.

We're trying to challenge this, because it seems wrong for a disabled pensioner to be paying that kind of money each year.

Svetlana has tried to query this with the authorities and the local equivalent of the Citizens Advice Bureau (patronato), but it doesn't look like an easy thing to resolve. So I'm researching for a lawyer who understands this space and is willing to challenge this unfair application of the law (or even the law itself).

So I'm raising on Svetlana's behalf: first, we need £2,000 to meet her health renewal payment in December. That's the most urgent thing. Second, whatever we can get on top, will go to paying for a lawyer to help her with the various problems caused by her status (which also includes a threatened eviction from her retirement accommodation).

Your contribution is direct action to support a good person in much need. I'm hoping you can help me help her. Thank you!