Media release | Gadens raises over $15,000 for non-profit charity Lifeline Australia

The Gadens Melbourne and Sydney partnership has raised over $15,000 with a month-long fundraiser in support of Lifeline Australia, a national charity that provides all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

As part of Mental Health Month in October and to mark World Mental Health Day (10 October 2021), the Gadens Melbourne and Sydney partnership commenced the online fundraiser, ‘Refresh those lockdown locks: cut or colour for charity’. This fundraiser provided an opportunity to improve community awareness of mental health, increase a focus on mental health in the workplace and an opportunity to mobilise efforts in support of a national mental health service in Australia.

Gadens had 23 volunteers participate across the firm who volunteered to cut, colour or dye their hair at home and donate what they would usually spend at their hairdresser or barber to raise funds for this cause. The efforts received widespread support within the firm and the community. We easily passed our $10,000 target, and then Gadens contributed a further $5,000 to bring the total to $15,866.52. The funds raised means that over 400 calls made to Lifeline will not go unanswered.

Mark Pistilli, CEO of the Gadens Melbourne and Sydney partnership, said:

“The campaign to support Lifeline Australia received strong support from everyone at the firm. It was a great way of us to use our time in lockdown to encourage everyone to try home haircuts and hair colouring for a really great cause. I am impressed by the creative and bold styling choices of our team!

“With so many Australians in lockdown for extended periods over these last 20 months, looking after our mental health has been more important than ever. I am heartened that so many of our staff wanted to contribute to a cause that has a real impact for those looking for support in times of need.”

About Lifeline Australia

As a trusted national not-for-profit organisation, Lifeline has been saving lives for more than 50 years and are committed to preventing suicide in Australia through 24/7 multiplatform crisis support.

Lifeline has a network of 40 centres which are working at the coalface of suicide prevention within communities. These Centres represent a beacon of hope and their 11,000 staff and volunteers – including about 4,500 highly-trained Crisis Supporters – are connecting with Australians where and when they need assistance and ensuring no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

Lifeline Australia’s telephone, text, and online crisis support services receive over 1 million contacts a year, while their training and education programs build community skills. The Lifeline Research Foundation creates new knowledge, as well as engaging in public education, awareness building and advocacy in relation to suicide prevention.

If you ever need to talk to someone, support is available. Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 anytime for confidential telephone crisis support.  

See more on the fundraiser here: https://fundraise.lifeline.org.au/event/gadens