Hi, my name is Nicole and I’m fundraising for one of my best friends, Julio, so he can go and visit his family before his mother passes.

Julio is one of the best people I know. I’ve lived with him for three years, and in that time I’ve seen him show nothing but kindness and care towards everyone he encounters. He is genuinely a wonderful human being, despite his life being full of difficulties.

Julio is from Venezuela, and immigrated to Australia for a better life. His journey has not been easy- I can go into many stories about what he has had to deal with. Everything from his workplace taking advantage of him and having to put up with illegal workplace practices for the hope of permanent residency, to him having to bribe Venezuelan officials for a new passport. Through all of this, he has been nothing but positive and determined, sending money to his family and fully supporting them as it is no longer safe for them to work.

It took him years to find stable employment and permanent residency here in Australia, and there has never been anyone more deserving.

However, in that time, his mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer. On top of sending money home for daily expenses, Julio then had to completely fund his mothers treatment, which he has done without hesitation. Despite years of treatment, the cancer is now in stage four and doctors have said that no amount of further chemo, radiation or surgery, will help her survive. At age 61, she has been given a maximum of six months left to live.

Unfortunately, Julio has no way of knowing just when the day will come. Despite the dangers of Venezuela, Julio would like to travel back to see her before she passes. And once she does, he and his elderly father will be solely responsible for his disabled aunt, who requires full-time care. Julio hopes to bring his father and aunt to Australia so he can care for them.

Doing this will all require a lot of money. Not only will Julio need money for airfare, hospital and funeral expenses, but he will need to travel with his father and aunt to a safer country with an Australian embassy and provide accommodation for them all while they wait for a visa appointment and approval.

Julio has big dreams of his own. He wants to buy a car and be able to drive to the beach when he wants. He wants to be able to take a holiday for the first time in this life. He wants to find love and a partner to start a life with. For years he has had to act selflessly for his family and think solely of survival.

Please help if you can, any amount will go a long way. He doesn’t know I’m making this account, I’m sure he would be too proud. But it’s time for someone to help him for a change!