Charity home on the way for River’s Gift cause

A NEW home has begun construction in the hopes of raising funds for a locally-based Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) charity.

Local home builder Geelong Homes has undertaken a pledge to build its second charity home in the ongoing fight against SIDS through the River’s Gift charity.

Funds raised through the sale of the newly built home will assist the scientific partnership between River’s Gift and the University of South Australia and continue the development of an innovative genetic SIDS biobank.

General manager of Geelong Homes Josh Liston said he was excited to be involved in the construction of the second charity home project alongside River’s Gift.

“Geelong Homes have a long and proud history in the local region,” he said.

“So we are thrilled to work with such an inspiring family based charity that are having a significant impact on the national stage.”

River’s Gift co-founder Karl Waddell said the project started construction on a contemporary three-bedroom home in Yaringa, Armstrong Creek in March this year, with Geelong Homes.

The home is scheduled for completion and auctioning later this year and is the product of “generous” contribution of Geelong Homes and their sub-contractors and suppliers, including David Draper and the team at Drapers Civil Contracting.

River’s Gift is also excited to be promoting and marketing Geelong Homes’ Pledge campaign across Australia with River’s Gift ambassador George Georgievski (The Lunchbox Dad).

Mr Georgirevski will help spread the word to his one million social media followers and to his audience on featured national TV and print appearances.

Mr Waddell and River’s mother (and River’s Gift co-founder) Alexandra Hamilton lost their child at just four months of age due to SIDS in 2011.

Both said losing a healthy child was something that no parent should ever go through in their lives.

“There were no external risk factors present in River’s cot and he was on his back when Alex discovered him cold and lifeless,” Mr Waddell said.

“Following the forensic autopsy, it wasn’t found that he had any virus or organ defect. River was healthy, strong, and perfect in every way.”

Ms Hamilton said on the night of Sunday, November 6, 2011, River was smiling and happy as he was bathed, even though he was getting over his first little cold.

“As he fed, he slowly drifted off to sleep. I lay him in his cot and crept out of his nursery,” she said

“Our little man, the light of our life, the most precious thing in our world, had died, sometime between 11.30pm and that morning. River was just 128 days old.”

To help River’s Gift in its pursuit of Stamping Out SIDS, contribute a pledge for River’s Gift at riversgift.org