We’ve seen people go to extraordinary lengths to fundraise for us but this one trumps them all.
120 Aussies from all walks of life – scientists, carpenters, pilots, firefighters, electricians, meteorologists – have been living and working at Casey Station, Antartica, for the summer, as part of the Australian Antarctic Program, living out long held-dreams to chase adventure at the ends of the earth.
Last Saturday night, at their end of summer celebration, they held a fundraiser for Levi’s Project. What they lacked in resources they made up for in enthusiasm and inventiveness.
Some of our favourite items auctioned off were a loaf of bread for $300, hand knitted beanies for $400 and earrings made out of scrap metal left on the workshop floor that went for $200 each. The Casey Station Leader shaved his head and beard for $1500, a coffee table made out of scraps of wood went for $2K, a bird painting fetched a couple of thousand and our personal favourite, a block of 2017 Cadbury chocolate (when you can’t just pop down to the shops, you squirrel this stuff away like gold) went for $150.
We’ve had the biggest smiles on our faces all week seeing the donations and messages come in. They may have been 6,428km away but we felt every bit of their passion and heart.
Shout out to our special friend, Kristin Alston, who made this happen. Kristin is a long-time Levi’s Project volunteer who missed her annual Chrissy tree run to the farm in her big truck as she’s realising her decade-long dream to be in Antarctica. She tried six times to get there and she finally made it.
We’re so glad she did 🙌