Our Mission:
To raise adequate dollars for Bipolar Research to find the cause and eventual cure for Bipolar Disorder, thus improving the lives of bipolar sufferers, their families and care-givers, reducing depression, mania and suicide.
My Dad lived with Bipolar Disorder for the 59 years of his married life.
My brother Ian Parker,lived with sever episodes of spiralling mood swings for 25 years of his adult life and tragically passed away aged 50 years 8 months by suicide 10th August 2005.
Empathy, love, communication, listening and reaching out to those who need support to find the cause and eventual cure for Bipolar Disorder is what this Bipolar Research Fund is all about.
I am determined with adequate funds WE WILL make a DIFFERENCE through SHARING, DONATING and Bipolar RESEARCH!!
Please Help us to FIND the ANSWERS for so many who are living on a daily basis with Bipolar Disorder; many without the adequate and necessary help, assistance, respect and dignity they so rightly deserve; as do all peoples, no matter their gender, culture or creed.
Courtesy of the Colac Herald – May 2014
Volunteer Knitter Mary, featured on the front page of the Colac Herald
as a staunch supporter and beanie knitter for our ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Campaign
(see ‘Media’ tab for full story of this article)
This is just some of the magnificent response for 2014 from Volunteer knitters from all over Australia!
My heart is so grateful for your continued support toward our ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Campaign as we host
our monthly stalls to raise funds for Bipolar Research
BEANIES FOR BIPOLAR
Knitters Wanted!! 
Crocheters Wanted!!
Felters Wanted!!
Help support Bipolar Research by knitting, crocheting or felting beanies
Carol Smit Founder and Event Organiser of the Inaugural ‘Ian Parker Bipolar Fund’ for Bipolar Research in Australia is looking for knitters and crocheters from all corners of the world to contribute to Bipolar Research either as an individual or by ‘groups’ creating ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ for the Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund Annual Stalls – with lots of fun for a very worthy cause!
Now is the time to grab your needles and hooks and get together with some family, friends, work colleagues or ‘grey nomads’ who love to just sit and relax!!
A few spare minutes every day adds up to a few hours a week and before you know it another ‘Beanie4Bipolar’ is birthed!! If you do not have the time to sew your beanies seams we have very neat sewing Volunteers who devote their time to just doing this to make it easier for those who wish to only create! We would sooner receive beanies to be sewn up than no beanie at all, so please do not be stressed over this!
We want to saturate the world with ‘Beanies4Bipolar!!!
We’re looking for a mix of babies, children’s and adults beanies, knitted in any ply or yarn to create as much variety, texture and uniqueness as you desire!
We need lots of variety, the ‘funkier’, ‘cooler’, ‘trendier’, most novel’ or the very ‘traditional’ all make for a great, interesting and unique buyers mix to choose from!!
Farmers are always on the search for nice BIG beanies for BIG heads! Ones that come right down over their ears for those freezing cold frosty mornings!!
If you can’t knit, crochet or felt but happen to find you have a supply of wool or acrylic balls you no longer need but don’t know who to pass them on to we’d love to have them.
We also would love any unwanted knitting needles, crochet hooks or beanies patterns of any shape or style that are looking for a ‘new home!’
All donated wool and aids are distributed amongst other knitting and crocheting groups.
All postal details are to be found at the bottom of the ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ section of this page!
From May 19th 2013 all donated beanies will be for sale at our annual monthly stalls with all proceeds donated to the Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund – raising funds for the Australian Rotary Health / Ian Parker Bipolar Fund PhD Scholarship for our Inaugural PhD Scholarship winner Ms Emma Gliddon, currently studying in Bipolar Research at Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia.
At the end of Emma’s three year scholarship term she will qualify with an Inaugural Doctorate of bipolar Research for Australia!
The ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Campaign is an ongoing annual event as we strive to continue raising funds for many PhD Scholarships for Bipolar Research to be made available to the many talented PhD Medical Students who wish to purse a career with Bipolar Research.
Beanies for Bipolar Annual Local Stall Dates:
From 19th May 2013 – 17th November 2013
All completed beanies and donations of wool need to be sent to Carol throughout each season to build up a great stock for future annual ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Stalls.
Stalls will commence and continue on the 3rd Sunday of each month with the first stall May 19th 2013 at Memorial Square, Murray St. Colac from 9.00 am - 2.00 pm.
Look out for the Gazebo with the BIG BEANIE TOP and POM POM!!!
Each year the stall sales season will finish end November in Memorial Square Colac and the cycle will repeat again annually from mid May – November, but that does not mean we stop making beanies.
Further dates and venues can be seen by visiting the ‘Calendar of Events’ page on this site.
Our Aim:
To receive 2000 Beanies created from not only my State of Victoria and not from only my Nation of Australia but WORLDWIDE!! Bipolar effects all people of all cultures in all Nations – your efforts will help bring about change!!
This is the INAUGURAL and only BIPOLAR FUND to be creating ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ Stalls in Australia toward raising funds for Bipolar Research.
We NEED YOUR HELP to become the BIGGEST ‘Beanies4Bipolar’ creators of the WORLD!!
1st June 2013 updated count: 265 Beanies donated!
3rd July 2014 updated count: 1500 Beanies donated!!
Although we recognise this is a great effort, it is way below the adequate quantity to raise the minimum goal of $20,000.00 from this event annually.
To achieve this amount of $$$’s we need to receive a minimum of 2000 beanies annually. Some may think will not achieve this amount for 2013 but we certainly will be working toward reaching this goal with much global support and for many future years!
Mailing Details:
Ian Parker Bipolar Research Fund
P O Box 534
Colac Vic. 3250 Australia
Further Enquiries always Welcomed!
Please e-mail: carol@bipolarresearchfund.org.au
Just pop your ponytail through the top of this one!!
