More than $830,000 has been raised for a nine-month-old baby who was stabbed in the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre which tragically claimed the life of her mother.
Baby Harriet was with her mother Ashlee Good, 38, at the shopping centre on the afternoon of Saturday, April 13 when they were the first people to be attacked at random by crazed knifeman Joel Cauchi.
One of Dr Good’s final acts was to thrust Harriet into the arms of strangers begging them to ‘please help, help’.
Dr Good, an osteopath, tragically died but Harriet miraculously survived and was released from hospital on Sunday April 21.
Kind-hearted Australians have since donated $830,040 to give Dr Good’s partner, Dan, and little Harriet ‘the freedom to go forward into the future without financial burden or worry’.
‘Ash was a ray of sunshine and positivity in every aspect of her life and died a hero saving her little girl from the most unspeakable evil,’ GoFundMe organiser Steven Foxwell wrote.
The donations are still pouring in from friends and strangers alike, often accompanied by heartbreaking messages.
Harriet was with her mother Ashlee Good (pictured), 38, at the shopping centre on the afternoon of Saturday 13 April when they were attacked by crazed knifeman Joel Cauchi
Kind-hearted Australians have donated $830,040 set up to give Dr Good’s partner, Dan, and Harriet ‘the freedom to go forward into the future without financial burden or worry’ (pictured)
‘Although I did not know Ashlee, I was deeply touched by her bravery and great maternal love, and my heart goes out to all of you at this difficult time,’ wrote one.
‘I’m so sorry for your horrific loss. I hope the money raised here gives you the freedom to go forward and continue living your lives in a way that would make Ash proud,’ a second added.
‘As a mother of two, this really truly caused my heart to ache in a way I haven’t felt for a long time,’ a third said.
‘I wish for this little girl so much happiness and light in her future. I can’t even imagine all the different ways the family are feeling right now.’
Nicola Britton, the Regional Director for GoFundMe Australia, said that the fundraiser is currently the second-largest in Australia for 2024, trailing only behind another fundraiser focused on humanitarian relief for Gaza.
People lay flowers at a memorial set up inside the Bondi Junction Westfield Shopping Centre to honour the victims of Cauchi’s stabbing rampage
‘The Good family fundraiser has benefitted from over 12,000 donations, donated from more than 30 countries around the world with the top donor countries being Australia, the United States and Great Britain,’ she said.
Dr Good was one of six people killed during the horrific attack in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs last Saturday.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Yixuan Cheng, 27, and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, were the other five victims killed.
Cauchi, 40, stabbed 12 more innocent shoppers during the terrifying rampage.
Baby Harriet will continue to receive treatment following her release from hospital.
‘In a positive development, I can confirm the child who has been receiving care at Sydney Children’s Hospital following last weekend’s tragic events at Bondi Junction has been discharged home,’ NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said in April.
‘She continues to receive care from the expert clinicians at Sydney Children’s Hospital.’