River's Gift has been chosen as the charity partner by WiTA (Women in Trucking Australia) and are launching our 'Driving Hope' Campaign. As part of this campaign, WiTA is encouraging the entire trucking community to help shine a beacon of hope on the world of SIDS. With a fundraising target of $40,000, the campaign will centre around River’s Gift’s beloved mascot, Hope the Elephant and her journey 'Driving Hope' across Australia.

Truck drivers across the country are invited to purchase their own Hope the Elephant plush toy and place her on their truck dashboards, sharing her journey around Australia on social media with friends and family, and fundraising to support our mission of Stamping Out SIDS.

Founded by Karl Waddell and Alex Hamilton in 2011 after the sudden loss of their baby son, River, at just 128 
days old, River’s Gift is Australia’s only SIDS-focused charity. It supports bereaved families and funds 
pioneering research into the genetic causes of SIDS through the University of South Australia, as well 
as delivering education on safe sleep practices to communities and health services nationwide. River 
was gifted a baby blue elephant soft toy when he was born so Hope the Elephant became River’s Gift’s 
mascot, now with her own children’s book about Finding Hope whilst educating parents on SIDS and 
safe sleep for infants.

This campaign helps shine a spotlight on SIDS, a syndrome that isn't afforded anywhere near the attention and focus that it once was. In Australia each and every year, over 100 babies still lose their lives suddenly and unexpectedly in sleep.