Lollipop Opera has been introducing children to the joy of opera for over 15 years. Sadly, the transmission on the 2010 Chrysler van we use to transport all the scenery for the shows is completely shot. We spent a few thousand dollars on repairs in January, but the effect was short-lived. The van is too unreliable; it cuts off constantly, bucks, and sometimes makes a loud roaring sound. We would hate disappoint the students by getting stranded on the way to one of our school performances. We'd like to raise enough money to purchase a newer model used van.

There is a secondary need for the van; co-founder, scenic designer, star baritone and main roadie John Swanson is undergoing aggressive treatment for metastatic bone cancer following a prostatectomy in 2023. The massive amount of tumors in his back and hips have made it incredibly painful to get in and out of the family sedan, which is low to the ground, when going for his chemotherapy. In spite of his pain, John is still giving wonderfully entertaining performances and plans to continue to do so as long as possible. You can see videos clips of some his performances on Facebook on the Lollipop Opera and the Elizabethan Consort pages. Here is a promo video for Lollipop Opera:

It would save him a lot of pain if we had a reliable van to transport him to his treatments and doctor appointments because it would allow him to get in and out without having to bend so low. Any small amount you could contribute would be deeply appreciated.