Have you’ve seen red clown noses on people and dogs and even cars and buses this morning? Today marks the 36th annual Red Nose Day, with Australians getting silly to stop little lives being cut short and ensure grieving families get the support they need.
Since its inception, Red Nose Day has made huge strides in reducing sudden and unexpected infant deaths through education and research, as well as offering specialised bereavement services to families.
Get silly for a serious cause
Urging everyone to ‘get silly for a serious cause’, Red Nose Day is one of Australia’s most-loved fundraisers, bringing together communities, businesses and individuals to raise funds and awareness for critical services and research.
Today, people all across Australia will proudly don red noses, dance at ‘Red Nose Discos’, host fundraising events and make donations – all in an effort to save little lives.
SIDS reduced by 80 per cent
Despite having reduced SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) by 80 per cent over the past 36 years, and invested more than $18 million into lifesaving research, Red Nose Australia’s work is far from over. Each year in Australia, 3,000 babies and young children still die suddenly and unexpectedly from stillbirth, SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy) and other causes. It is estimated that a further 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage.
Red Nose Australia CEO, Keren Ludski, will be in Melbourne today contributing to a chalk mural in Bourke Street Mall, honouring all little lives lost – including her own child. ‘I lost my son Ben to SIDS in 1998. Losing a child is every parent’s worst nightmare. I unfortunately know from firsthand experience that it is a nightmare you can never wake up from.
Red noses symbolise lives lost and lives saved
‘But, I also know firsthand that the support Red Nose offers families is invaluable. Every red nose worn today symbolises little lives lost, little lives saved, and a show of solidarity for bereaved families.
‘Red Nose Day has helped to save over 12,000 little lives since its inception. But, our work is far from done. No parent should ever lose a child, and Red Nose won’t stop until that is the case,’ said Ms Ludski.
Funds raised via Red Nose Day will help to provide around-the-clock support services for grief-stricken families as well as education programs for new parents to help keep their babies safe. Funds will also go towards research to further determine the causes of SIDS and stillbirths in a bid to prevent as many tragedies as possible.
Donate now at rednoseday.org.au/donate. To use the digital Red Nose filter visit: rednoseday.org.au/digitalnose/links
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