HANDMADE wooden milestone blocks help customers mark their growing babies. These blocks also help sisters Alyce Goold and Jess Lang move forward.
Jess’s healthy baby daughter Charlie died, aged 20 weeks, last year in her sleep. Alyce had been pregnant at the time.
When it came to Red Nose Day last year, the family made a pact to buy up all and any red noses or red nose products they could find across Ballarat. They were surprised when they could not find many noses, that had been so commonly available in their childhood.
This year, they are donating $5 from each set of handmade wooden milestone blocks they sell to SIDS and Kids. Their children and nursey décor business, Flamingos and Foxes, has grown in Charlie’s honour.
Jess said the experience of losing Charlie was still really raw, for herself and her partner, but her family’s strong support helped her channel her energy in a positive, proactive way. She wants to raise awareness for SIDS, which still had no definitive answers.
“This is one of those syndromes you think doesn’t happen to you,” Jess said. “...We were aware of it. We followed all the guidelines – there is a wealth of information out there – we had Charlie at the end of the cot. She was a really healthy baby and an amazing sleeper.
“Charlie just didn’t wake up one morning. There’s no known cause for it.”
Jess said she felt helpless. Last year, for Charlie’s birthday in November, the sisters had a chocolate drive to raise money for SIDS and Kids and they are helping to equip friends with new technology they have discovered in their research.
Alyce said forming Flamingos and Foxes had kept their minds busy and they had been overwhelmed with community support from across Ballarat and the markets where they sell their product. They started their Red Nose Day project with a goal to raise $1000 but now are aiming to make $5000 by Red Nose Day on Friday.
Flamingos and Foxes will donate 50 per cent of all product sales on Friday to the cause: facebook.com/Flamingosandfoxes
