Ben Needham was just 21-months-old when he vanished on July 24, 1991 after travelling to the Greek island of Kos.
And now, as British detectives finally receive the funding they need to begin searching for Ben in earnest, his heartbroken mother Kerry has written a message that she hopes her son may see.
"YOU could be Ben!!!"
The letter, which is also translated into Greek on the Help Find Ben Needham website, reads: "This is a direct appeal to anyone who is around 25-years-old and possibly living with a family who you look nothing like, I beg you to get in contact with me.
"I promise to cause no problems for your family who you live with, I just want you to know the truth about what happened to you and to know you are healthy and happy.
"A simple DNA sample can be taken from you without causing any distress to anyone.
"So if you think you were born in 1989 and you have blue/grey eyes and a possible birthmark on your leg, YOU could be Ben!!!"
She continued: "Twenty-three years have gone by Ben and I love you just as much today as I did the day you were born.
"Please anyone get in touch and end all this pain your family feel living without you."
Kerry Needham has said that she wants South Yorkshire Police - now that they have the funding - to investigate leads, including a file that she has handed in which lists eight separate sightings from unconnected people of a boy who could potentially be Ben with the same Greek family.