A Redlands couple has raised more than $50,000 for bushfire victims after being hit hard by news from fire-ravaged areas across Australia.
Shredlife Clothing Co has donated all money raised from the sale of its relief tees to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal and the Wires Wildlife Rescue Emergency Fund.
Company owners Liam Hennessy, 29, and 30-year-old wife Taneil aimed to raise $1000, but it has far surpassed that.
When orders for the t-shirts closed last week, Mr Hennessy said the total was nearing the $50,000 mark.
"That is super exciting," Mr Hennessy said.
The couple wanted to do their bit after being touched by the horrifying news coming out of the bushfire crisis.
"We just wanted to help," Mr Hennessy said.
"I've always taken as much time as possible to get to know the people who support Shredlife, and there was a handful who live in these areas affected.
"Once the word got out, we were getting messages directly from people and it really started hit hard hearing first hand from those."
The couple was stunned by one person who donated after being affected by a fire.
"One person was at a shelter who had lost possessions, and still got involved in our fund raiser," Mr Hennessy said.
"There are so many good people in the world, we were speechless."
The t-shirts feature an iconic Australian image - a koala with a bottle of water - with a thank you message for people who have donated.
"It is an image we have imprinted in our heads now with the bushfires," Mr Hennessy said.
"We added an Aussie hat on the koala, and a thank you because it wasn't about us.
"It was about those who needed it.
"We are stoked with what the Shredlife community has done."
He said more initiatives were planned.
"We definitely have our initiatives to show more of our purpose," Mr Hennessy said.
"we have a strong, positive meaning behind us."
