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Since 2012 River\u2019s Gift has raised more than $1.5 million, as well as providing crucial safe sleep education for parents and support for those who have suffered the devasting loss of a child to SIDS.<\/p>\n
To mark what would have been River\u2019s 10 birthday on July 2, the charity is reaching out to the public to support its $10for10 appeal.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like two coffees in a week which is nothing, really,\u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand not everyone can give but if they could just share our message that is great too.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople have been really generous and donated more but if we can get everyone on board to donate $10 that would make a really big difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just this month the charity wholly funded a state-of-the-art genetic biobank \u2013 the only one of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere \u2013 which will allow scientists at the University of South Australia to examine genetic factors that have contributed to SIDS.<\/p>\n
In Australia, 100 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly each year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the number one cause of death in children aged one month to one year of age,\u201d Alex explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s 100 families per year that are absolutely devastated and the ripple effect that has is just massive.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we lost River, we didn\u2019t know where to look or who was funding anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I feel like families can come to us and say \u2018tell me about the research\u2019 and we can tell them in layman\u2019s terms.<\/p>\n
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