Bambi Mini Co. launches annual fundraising initiative to support the Good Friday Appeal.
Bambi Mini Co. aspires to build a better future for growing families and children. Our aim is to donate proceeds from products sold to various children charity partners. This year we kicked off an inaugural fundraising campaign to support the Good Friday Appeal to raise money for the Royal Children's Hospital.
Following on from the successful launch of organic babywear brand, Bambi Mini Co. in September 2022, Melbourne mum Nicole Verrocchi pledged to annually raise funds for the Good Friday Appeal supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital.
In 2023, Bambi Mini Co. launched two sets of exclusively designed organic cotton kids socks by Brisbane artist Brook Gossen this month. The proceeds totalling $136,508 generated from the sock sales were donated directly to the Good Friday Appeal.
The collaboration was inspired by Raffi Verrocchi, brand founder Nicole’s son, after he was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2020 when he was just two years old. The diagnosis broke the Verrocchi family’s hearts, but the Royal Children’s Hospital team were there to provide care and support for Raffi and their family, every step of the way, something the Verrocchi’s will be eternally grateful for.
Raffi was involved in creating the sock range, with illustrator and artist Brook Gossen taking inspiration for the designs from some of Raffi’s favourite things during his treatment. High fat healthy foods played a big part in Raffi’s life, and was such a big part of the treatment, that is where the avocado design came in. The other design Raffi chose was a heart. “The heart represents our friends and family who supported us and Raffi, and loved him the most. So it’s a big hugging heart,” Nicole says.
Raffi faced many physical and mental challenges during the initial phase of his treatment. He lost his ability to walk, experienced countless hospitalisations and midnight runs to emergency, endured complications associated with an infected port, experienced two anaphylactic reactions and lost his hair.
As direct beneficiaries of the incredible care and support provided from the Hospital, Nicole said the family wants to help make a difference to the community of sick kids and their families – a community their family was a part of.
“We want to give back to ensure all families and children are provided for with the best care and best chance of rehabilitation — no matter the prognosis."
“We are so lucky that Raffi leaves the hospital after two and half years. He is in remission and has made an extraordinary recovery, however, there are still many sick children and families on their journey – we want them to know we are here for them, and we are here to help," added Nicole.
After receiving treatment at The Royal Children’s Hospital over the last two and a half years, Raffi is now cancer free and absolutely thriving after just completing his final treatment with the Kookaburra Cancer Team.
"We're thrilled to see the new Bambi Mini Co. sock range be available in Chemist Warehouse stores just in time for this year's Good Friday Appeal. Every dollar raised toward the Appeal helps children like Raffi to have an opportunity for a healthy and happy life through the incredible care from The Royal Children's Hospital."
"Bambi Mini Co. is a wonderful example of the local business community innovating and banding together to be able to support this very important cause." Penny Fowler, Chairman, Good Friday Appeal.