Iris Whitelock

Why Am I Fundraising

I am fundraising, again, for an amazing organisation called Catherine Hamlin Fistula Foundation. The foundation supports the important work of Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, a pioneering Australian surgeon who committed her life to helping women in Ethiopia with devastating childbirth injuries. In Ethiopia, around 50% of women experience childbirth without medical care. Many women sustain horrific childbirth injuries like obstetric fistula, which leave them incontinent. They are often abandoned by their families and communities and hide away in shame and isolation. This will be my second trip to Ethiopia. The trip in March 2026 was a truly heart-opening experience and I am so excited to be going back again. Again, it will be a self-funded trip, and this time we'll be exploring the Harar region of Ethiopia, visiting the Hamlin hospitals and clinics there. As part of my commitment, I am fundraising to directly help provide life-changing surgery and rehabilitation to women. Please donate so women can receive the treatment and loving care they urgently need to regain their lives. Thank you for your support!