Head shaving raises big in double-edged fundraiser

A LOCAL cafe employee has surpassed her fundraising goal of $3,000 for a charity dear to her heart, after many months of delay.

Scarlett von Brandenstein has wanted to host her fundraising event “Shave for SIDS and Wigs 4 Kids” since May.

Finally, after months of restrictions, Scarlett held the charity event at her workplace Ginger Monkey cafe on Thursday, with proceeds going to the River’s Gift and Wigs for Kids charities.

River’s Gift was established in 2011 by Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton who lost their first-born child River to SIDS.

The charity has since raised more than $1.5 million to fund world-leading scientific research, providing safe sleep education, ‘uniting’ SIDS families and raising awareness of the devastating syndrome.

Scarlett’s aunt knew Ms Hamilton through a mother’s group, which is where the idea for her fundraiser was born.

Thanks to Scarlett’s six-month social media campaign she raised $2,900 in total, with the remainder of her fundraising goal to be achieved at her charity event.

Friends and family made up the capped COVID-19 limit at Ginger Monkey where attendees helped Scarlett raise a total of $3,810 through drink sales at the event and a raffle, which included prizes from local businesses.

“It was a really special moment for me to be able to have my friends and family gathered around,” Scarlett said.

“Just having the main focus of the afternoon be on such a worthwhile cause, I felt so whole and complete after the event itself, because honestly it was all very last minute and the turnout we got was great.”

Scarlett’s future aspirations in becoming a midwife were also a major factor in kickstarting her fundraiser, noting that SIDS is not spoken about as much as it should be.

“I’m hoping to get into midwifery because I love babies,” Scarlett said.

“I think it (SIDS) just isn’t that well-known, but it is a huge issue, so the cause I’m raising funds for is a great one and one I’m really interested in continuing to learn about.”

In addition to the funds raised, the hair shaved off Scarlett’s head was donated to the initiative Wigs for Kids, an organisation that creates wigs for children undergoing cancer treatments.

Head to givenow.com.au/crowdraiser/public/shaveforsidsandwigs4kids if you would like to contribute to Scarlett’s fundraising.