“It’s something,” Clover Iddles laughs when asked what it’s like to have a little brother who lives with autism and ADHD.
It’s also kind of cool. “He’s really into technology and nature and animals and it’s cool that he’s really passionate about those things. I’ve learnt a lot about the way he expresses himself.”
Clover’s younger brother received his autism and ADHD diagnosis last year. Her dad also has ADHD and her mum, Amy, has experience with anxiety. It’s perhaps not surprising then that mental health is something the Iddles family talk about a lot – with friends, community and other family members.
In fact, it was an aunt who first told Clover about The Mullet Matters, a fundraising campaign in support of the Mental Health Foundation that sees people using the power of the mullet to start conversations about and raise funds for mental health.
11-year-old Clover was in.
“I don’t think I’d ever really thought about a mullet for a girl, but since the campaign I’ve seen heaps of girls and women with it and it’s cool.”
A family friend, Anna, is the manager at Mods in Merivale, Christchurch. She offered one of her stylists to execute the transformation from a classic bob to a funky mullet for free.
Clover put a post up on her mum’s Facebook account at 7pm asking people to support her efforts and the Mental Health Foundation. By the time she woke up the next morning she’s already racked up $1000 in donations.
Not satisfied, she approached her principal, Mrs Moeller-Kemp at Te Waitai Sefton Primary School in North Canterbury and got permission for a whole school non-uniform day which raised $230.
Think Clover was done?
Think again. She approached Winnie Bagoes restaurant in Rangiora and installed a donation box (made by her clever dad on a 3D printer) on the counter.
Enough effort for one young fundraiser?
Wrong.
As the campaign nears its end, she’s decided if she hits her new fundraising goal of $2250 she’ll dye her hair either green or purple. Or maybe both?
Oh, and did we mention the garage sale?
“It’s been such a cool experience to be able to do something like this. It’s such a unique way to fundraise for people with mental health challenges, and what I’ve learnt is that it’s very important to talk about it because everyone will know someone who has experience of it.”
At the time of writing, Clover had nearly achieved $2000 in donations, almost twice her original $1000 goal. She also received the “Best Transformation” title as part of Aotearoa’s Next Top Mullet competition.
If you’d like to support this feisty first-time fundraiser, please donate below:
