Got tissues? Good.
Meet Sandra Yates and Lee Bransden.
Sandra Yates (L) and Lee Bransden.
Heath Holden / Supplied
Suffering from end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Lee has been told she has just weeks to live.
Her dying wish is to marry Sandra in New Zealand, the closest country to Australia where marriage equality is legalised.
However, money is tight for the two former nurses, who are both on pensions and lost their life savings after a property investment went sour.
Travelling to New Zealand was financially out of the question for the pair, with the money they do have going towards pre-paying for Lee's funeral.
"We sold the camper van we had to pay for her funeral," Sandra told BuzzFeed News.
People attend a rally in support of same-sex marriages in Sydney, Australia.
Torsten Blackwood / Getty Images
Sandra told BuzzFeed News they were "absolutely exuberant".
"I couldn't even find the words to say how thrilled we were with the response, how utterly in awe we are," she said.
"People have reached to the bottom of their pockets and just given so generously to support us in our venture to be married in New Zealand."
The crowdfunding campaign was started in late April by advocacy group Australian Marriage Equality. It has exceeded its target of $6,500 to pay for Sandra and Lee's flights, accommodation, and ceremony.
Sandra said they would get married in Rotorua, as indigenous culture is significant to the pair.
"We're both of Aboriginal descent and as Lee worked in New Zealand for 25 years she was really connected to Maori culture and it's very special to both of us," she said.
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