SIDS and Kids New South Wales and Victoria are asking the community to put their “best nose forward” this Red Nose Day.
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Red noses will be available for sale for $3 all day today.
The organisation helps prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and is working with Red Nose Day to raise “heavily” needed community donations.
SIDS and Kids chief executive officer Leanne Raven said the Australian government only funded 12.5 per cent of its expenses, so it was community fundraising which allowed vital research to be done into stillbirths and fatal sleeping accidents.
“We want to thank our community members for their generous support over the years,” Ms Raven said. “But our work doesn’t end here.”
This year, everyone is also encouraged to “Dare to Care”, by daring themselves to complete a personal challenge, and raising funds through the Red Nose Day website.
Hopes are high of reaching the $250,000 goal for SIDS and Kids, with almost $30,000 raised before Red Nose Day.
Community funding goes towards vital research into SIDS, and also educates families and provides face-to-face counselling and 24-hour phone support.
Since 1977, the organisation has reduced instances of SIDS by 80 per cent and, in 2013, provided information on safe bedding to more than 171,000 families and gave counselling and bereavement support to more than 600 families.