Cooper and Elsie Rheese at The Early Bird cafe in Benalla on 'Do it for Dolly Day'.
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Benalla cafe The Early Bird has raised more than $1000 in support of Do it for Dolly Day, selling more than 70 blue cupcakes on Friday, May 8.
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The day is held in memory of Dolly Everett, who took her own life in 2018 after experiencing prolonged bullying and cyberbullying.
Her parents, Kate and Tick Everett, founded Dolly’s Dream to help prevent bullying and support families affected by it.
The organisation works to change the culture of bullying by raising awareness, promoting kindness and providing vital support services for young people and their families, including workshops and the 13 DOLLY support line.
Benalla cafe The Early Bird sold more than 70 cupcakes for Do it for Dolly Day on May 8.
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Do It for Dolly Day, held on May 8, encouraged people to wear blue — Dolly’s favourite colour — to honour her memory and raise awareness.
Cafe owner Caryn De Fazio said the business had been fundraising for Dolly’s Dream for years, raising around $3000 last year.
“I remember the day that I saw it on the news,” she said.
“I had kids around Dolly’s age when it happened, and it just hit very hard that this poor girl was so silent in her suffering and her grief.
“I remembered her on the Akubra ad when she was four or five and that cute little face, and I thought, ‘I can’t believe that’s happened to her and her family.’”
The Early Bird cafe sold cupcakes and Dolly’s Dream merchandise to raise funds.
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Caryn said it was “absolutely incredible” that Dolly’s family built such a large foundation to help other young people.
“The programs they do in schools are very on level with kids, and they don’t feel like they’re educational things,” she said.
“They tell their story, and it hits home because it’s so very real and relatable, and they do a lot of mental health programs for adults to help identify issues with children.
“They don’t just target professionals, they target parents as well to come along.
“It’s a really impactful campaign.”
The Early Bird cafe sold out of Dolly’s Dream cupcakes by 9.30am.
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Caryn said that this year they teamed up with Yeti, ordering coffee cups and other products engraved with Dolly’s Dream logo.
“We’re trying to step it up another notch every year,” she said.
This year, the cafe raised $831 in-store on the day through cupcake sales and Dolly’s Dream merchandise, with more than $400 coming in through online orders.
“It’s safe to say we broke the $1000 barrier. We made six dozen cupcakes and sold out by 9:30am on the day,” Caryn said.
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