SIDS and Kids is a charity that my husband and I proudly support.

Our business Plum is partners with SIDS and Kids and a percentage of Plum’s sales support SIDS and Kids Safe Sleeping educational campaign.

Our partnership with SIDS and kids has been a rewarding initative and I would like to persuade more people to support this worthy charity either personally or by getting their workplace involved.

SIDS and Kids provides vital safe sleeping education to expectant mothers, their families and healthcare professionals all around Australia.

It also provides crucial bereavement support to those affected by the death of a baby or child, and receives 10,000 calls for support and education every year. The bereavement serivce also provides support for those who have had a miscarriage or stillborn baby.

Most people think SIDS and Kids is only dedicated to preventing SIDS but they do so much more. Since SIDS and Kids’ inception, over $16 million has been devoted into researching stillbirth, neonatal death as well as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and other causes that contribute to the 3,500 unexpected infant deaths that devastate Australian families each year.

I first remember becoming aware of SIDS and Kids about 20 years ago seeing so many cars on the streets that had a red noses on for Red Nose Day so this has encouraged me to buy everyone in my office a Red Nose for their cars because it is such a great way to get them message out their.

This year SIDS and Kids is doing something really special by encouraging everyone to be bold this Red Nose Day by participating in their new online fundraising initiative, Dare to Care.

Dare to Care is a unique fundraising experience.

Participants are invited to take on a personal challenge in order to help raise funds for this very worthy cause. Those who are keen to take on a dare may set up their own personalised fundraising page via which friends, family and colleagues are able to donate and add messages of support.

So long as dares are safe and fun, there are no limitations surrounding what kind of challenges may be attempted; everything from fitness goals to bungee jumping is highly encouraged!

Dani and Adam Nix from the Hunter Valley in NSW have already raised over $1,000, having challenged themselves to eat a piece of fruit every day. The couple explain on their personal Dare to Care webpage that their participation was motivated by the desire to give thanks to SIDS and Kids.

“We have decided to Dare to Care to help raise funds for SIDS and Kids Red Nose Day. We sadly lost our twin boys Heath William Nix and Hayden Asher Nix in 2013 from premature delivery related to an infection… SIDS and Kids Hunter Region has supported us so kindly. By doing this we are able to give back to SIDS so they can continue to support other families through their grief. As you can imagine grief can take its toll on your health so we have challenged ourselves to eat a piece of fruit a day to kick start ourselves back on a healthy lifestyle…Please support SIDS and Kids to help support family’s like us.”

Leanne Raven, CEO of SIDS and Kids says “The program is an opportunity for everyone to simultaneously achieve personal goals, while contributing to a greater cause.”

“Dare to Care is about challenging yourself, connecting with your own personal support network and having fun, all in the name of supporting a worthy cause and ultimately helping to save lives.

All funds raised via Dare to Care will contribute directly to SIDS and Kids continuing their lifesaving work including world class research, evidence based education, bereavement support and advocacy.

The current fundraising goal is $250,000.

All dares are encouraged to be undertaken on or before Red Nose Day, Friday 27 June.

For further information or to register, visit www.rednoseday.com.au