An influencer reportedly managed to raise a phenomenal $700,000 towards relief amid Australia’s bushfire crisis by selling nudes - and is now encouraging other women to do the same.
Kaylen Ward, an American model, used her online fame to bring about a surge in donations towards firefighters, charities, and residents affected by the devastating fires.
The 20-year-old began the charitable scheme last week and in just a matter of minutes, she managed to raise $100,000 for the cause. According to Ward, that figure has since grown by seven times as much.
This heartwrenching footage shows a kind-hearted grandma rescuing a severely injured koala who was unable to escape the raging fires:
One of the women who was inspired to join the scheme is adult performer Riley Reid, who posted two snaps of her posing with a koala bear along with the caption: "I saw first hand how horrid the #AustraliaFires are."
She continued: "People & animals are dying & losing their homes. Please help spread awareness & donate. Email me proof of donation & I’ll send you personal photos &/or videos."
Jenna Lee is another example of someone who works the adult film industry, who announced that anyone who donated as little as $10 to the cause would receive a nude from her.
Since Saturday, January 4, Lee says she has raised $40,000, telling the National Post: "We’re all real people with good hearts, so I just knew that this was going to blow up."
"And it being totally in my realm of capabilities, I think it would have been a disservice not to do it," she continued.
Model Emma Elliot has also pledged her support for fundraising efforts, tweeting: "Im [sic] joining these babes to help with #AustraliaFires #AustraliaOnFire. $10 donation or more with confirmation, nude sent in DM."
Australia's devastating bushfire crisis has been ongoing since September, with fires blazing in every state in the country. And tragically, at least 25 people and 500,000 animals have died as a result of the fires. In addition, over 2,000 homes have been destroyed.
If you would like to donate to the brave services fighting these bushfires, please find the necessary information below...
How you can donate:
The NSW Rural Fire Service has multiple options for direct donations. You can donate to the RFS as a whole, or to specific brigades. You can donate through bank transfer, credit card or cheque.
For bank transfers, there is a set bank account (Account Name: NSW Rural Fire Service, BSB: 032-001, Account No: 171051). This account is for the RFS as a whole.
This link will take you to the landing page for credit card donations. You can donate to the RFS general fund or choose specific brigades from the dropdown box.
In Queensland, Fire and Rescue advise that you can donate both money and items through the website givit.org.au. The website allows fire-affected communities to list what they specifically need, from water tanks in Yeppoon to school uniforms in Zillmere.
In Victoria, the Country Fire Authority has two bank accounts - one for specific brigades and one for the general fund.
In South Australia, the Country Fire Service accepts donations through the CFS Foundation. You can donate to them here. You can also leave a bequest.
If you cannot find the particular brigade you are looking for, you can contact them directly.
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