With the support of her family, close friends, the Club House Hotel and the Singleton Greyhounds, courageous young mum Claire Desmond is kicking off an awe-inspiring fundraising effort this Red Nose Day. To save little lives on Friday, June 29 Claire will be dyeing her hair red courtesy of local hairdresser Brittany Smith and on Saturday, June 30 a charity auction and raffle is being held from 3pm at the Club House Hotel. She says thanks to her sister-in-law Phoebe there are some great prizes on offer.
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“We have a signed UFC middleweight world champion Robert Whittaker walk out jersey, signed Bulldogs and Knights jerseys and Komatsu has donated some replica models,” Claire says.
“On the same day my friend Jess from Chapman Valley Horse Riding is also hosting an event and donating all the proceeds to Red Nose.”
Then on Sunday, July 1 we will concentrate our efforts on Pirtek Park during Round 11 of the local rugby league competition, she explains.
“We will be selling raffle tickets and drawing it half-time; the winner gets a NSW State of Origin Jersey and second prize is a Queensland one.”
This comes just six months after the sudden death of her son, Leo. On Boxing Day Claire and her husband woke up to discover their healthy, happy, three-month old baby boy had passed away during the night.
And while their pain is still raw, she says the time is right to raise awareness and funds in the hope of finding answers as to why each year 3 200 children under the age of four die suddenly. A heartbreaking statistic that equates to nine families losing a precious child each day.
“I feel doing it this year will have the biggest impact rather than waiting,” she says. “Nothing I can do will bring him back but this is my way of doing something.” She says if we can prevent someone else from having to take this journey it will be worth it as losing a child is a lonely and isolating experience. Besides the planned events, Claire has also set up an online donation site in memory of Leo at https://rednosegivinginmemory2018.everydayhero.com/au