Gail is a long-time Lane Cove resident who is raising funds to help Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia, an organization dedicated to helping women in Ethiopia with terrible childbirth injuries. Earlier this year, Gail was invited on the challenge of a lifetime.
The challenge?
To raise $10 000 to go on a trip to see firsthand the work of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. With the trip only open to 20 residents in Australia, Gail quickly signed up and would love your help to reach her goal by November. Paying for her own travel expenses, Gail is determined to surpass her goal which could restore over 16 women’s lives.
What is Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia?
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia is an organisation dedicated to restoring the health and dignity of women who have survived horrendous – and preventable – childbirth injuries: obstetric fistulas.
Founded over 50 years ago by doctors Catherine and Reg Hamlin, these two surgical pioneers remained in Ethiopia following their initial three-year posting to continue treating the most marginalised women: those who have suffered an obstetric fistula, an internal injury caused by an obstructed childbirth, which leaves them incontinent, and humiliated with a horrible lingering odour.
These injuries are entirely preventable – in fact, obstetric fistulas are virtually a thing of the past in western countries. But in rural Ethiopia, where women have little or no access to maternal healthcare, they will be in agonising labour for days if their birth is obstructed. They almost always lose their baby and suffer unimaginably horrific internal damage that leaves them leaking urine, faeces, and sometimes both.
If that wasn’t traumatic enough, these women are isolated and pushed to the edge of their society – forgotten and invisible.
Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia works to mend this trauma, healing these women through surgery, rehabilitation and counselling – so they can be whole again.
Can You Help Gail’s Fundraising Efforts?
Gail is holding a fashion parade, featuring the Veducci fashion label, on Saturday 26th August , 2.30pm (THIS WEEKEND) at the Lane Cove Bowling Club and she would love you to attend. Veducci is a fully accredited ethical fashion house (with sizes 6 to 20). Come along and enjoy an afternoon of fashion and fundraising.
You can book for the event via this link http://www.trybooking.com/298315. Each ticket cost $20 and includes a glass of champagne, nibbles and the chance to win a lucky door prize. Not only that, by attending this event, you are supporting women in Ethiopia, as ticket costs go towards Gail’s Fundraising.
Can’t make it to the day, but still want to support Gail?
If you can’t make the fashion parade, you can help Gail with her fundraising by donating to her Everyday Hero Fundraising Page here: https://adventure-2017.everydayhero.com/au/gail-s-fundraising-adventure Every donation over $2 is tax deductible and goes such a long way towards supporting women in Ethiopia suffering from terrible childbirth injuries.
Be the change. Help Gail reach her goal. Every bit of help that you can give will make such a difference.
Find out more at hamlin.org.au
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