Hello, my name is Sylvia and I am asking for help for my sister to realise a lifelong dream with her passion and talent for opera - and honouring our parents' magnificent voices and all they taught her.

Today is my sister’s birthday, and I am reaching out to ask for a gift that will truly change her life and honour our family’s musical legacy.

Our parents both had magnificent voices. Although they had the talent for the professional stage, they never had the chance to follow that path, as they were more concerned with working and providing for our family.

But they passed that passion on to my sister. Everything she knows about singing and opera, she learned from them. Every note she sings carries their history, their love, and her memory of their beautiful voices, always in her ear.

My sister has had a lifelong passion for opera, but the road hasn't been easy.

Despite many obstacles, few opportunities, financial constraints, and a tough, unconventional journey towards becoming a professional singer, she has never given up and never will. After recent months of illness resulting in difficult financial circumstances, she has had to fight through every day with a resilience that would make our parents proud.

Today, that strength was rewarded: she was officially accepted into a prestigious, world-class Opera Retreat in Italy. With only a few spaces available, being selected - on her birthday no less - is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This intensive training will allow her to finally refine her craft and become the opera singer she was born to be.

She is singing for herself, but she is also singing to honour the voices of our parents.

Due to her recent health and financial struggles, she cannot make this leap alone. For her birthday this year, we aren't asking for gifts - we are asking for your help to fund her tuition, which costs €3,800.

Please would you help us celebrate Marions incredible resilience and spirit, and honour our family’s musical legacy.

Let’s help her make this dream come true ... finally." Any amount would be welcome and appreciated more than you could imagine. With my heartfelt thanks, Sylvia.