Hi everyone,

As many of you know, we lost our beautiful daughter, Gia Angelina Ierardo, on 31 July 2025. As we approach what would have been her 1st birthday, we want to honour her in a way that reflects the love she brought into our lives.

To commemorate her memory, Anthony will be running the Sutherland to Surf to raise funds for a cuddle cot to be donated to a hospital in need.

A cuddle cot is an invaluable support resource for bereaved parents. It gives parents uninterrupted time, without the distress of handing their baby back to hospital staff, so they can say hello, spend precious moments together, and say their final goodbye in their own time. This incredible device gave us three beautiful days with our Gia. We were able to introduce her to her family, hold her close, and soak in every moment. That time is something we will carry with us for the rest of our lives, and we want other families facing the unimaginable to have that same gift.

Our goal is to raise $6,500 to fund a cuddle cot through Bears of Hope. Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings us closer to placing one in a hospital that needs it. Any additional funds will be donated to Heartfelt, the volunteer organisation of photographers who gifted us the treasured images of Gia that we hold so dearly.

We are so grateful for the love and support we’ve received from our family and friends during this incredibly difficult time. Your kindness has carried us. Our hope is to keep Gia’s memory alive every day, and this fundraiser is one way we can ensure her short but powerful life continues to make a difference.

Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us honour our little girl.

Anthony & Isabella - Gia’s Parents ️

Each day in Australia, six babies are stillborn and three more die before their first birthday, not including the many precious babies lost before 20 weeks. Every one of these families deserves access to a cuddle cot and the time it provides.

https://www.bearsofhope.org.au/

https://heartfelt.org.au/

UPDATE #1:

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to our fundraiser. We are truly overwhelmed by your support, generosity, and the love you’ve shown our family.

Thanks to you, we have surpassed our original goal. Our new hope is to raise enough funds to donate two cuddle cots to hospitals in need, giving more families the precious time that meant so much to us.

We are so grateful for every contribution, share, and message of support. Your kindness is helping us honour Gia in the most meaningful way.

Anthony & Isabella - Gia’s Parents ️

UPDATE #2:

We’re grateful to be able share that we have officially begun organising the first cuddle cot in honour of our beautiful Gia. It’s now being prepared through Bears of Hope and will soon be delivered to a hospital that needs one, complete with a plaque carrying her name.

We’re deeply grateful for the support that has brought us to this point, and we’re hopeful we can continue raising enough to provide another cuddle cot to a hospital that needs it.

Anthony & Isabella - Gia’s Parents ️