A BENDIGO family has painted their garage door pink to raise awareness around period poverty.
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Bec Wildman and her children Hamish, Tess, and Noah are all taking part in Share the Dignity's #Move4Dignity drive this October.
The initiative encourages people to exercise to raise money for those who don't have access to sanitary products.
As part of the month, Mrs Wildman and her children painted their garage door pink with the message to donate to Share the Dignity.
The idea came after they painted the garage in rainbow colours during lockdown.
"Everyone was feeling rubbish and we ended up getting a few notes from neighbours complimenting it," she said.
"Hamish also recently did the MS Readathon and raised more than $1700. A lot of that came from our neighbourhood.
"We have a really supportive and generous neighbourhood, so when we signed up for #Move4Dignity we thought we would put it up on our garage door so we could spread the message and raise some funds."
Mrs Wildman said she gathered a group - which included her children, husband, mother, and friends - and signed up for the challenge.
They have been doing a range of activities so far this month, including walking and yoga.
Mrs Wildman said it was important to support those who were going without necessary items.
"I was just so shocked that period poverty was an issue," she said. "The whole thing with women and periods is it's really taboo.
"I don't think a lot of people understand what period poverty looks like. Having sanitary products as a luxury should not be an issue in our first-world country.
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"The other thing is I know what I'm like on my period. I cannot imagine being that emotional or vulnerable, and not having access to those items to maintain personal health and hygiene."
Share the Dignity Loddon Murray regional leader Lauren Read commended Mrs Wildman and her team for their efforts.
"I was so excited to see that Bec had not only created a friends and family team for #Move4Dignity, but that she had gone to such amazing lengths to help us spread awareness," she said.
"A lot of people either don't realise that period poverty is an issue, or if they do, they may think that it isn't a local problem. But it very much is.
"We work with service providers in Bendigo who have reported that now, more than ever, people are struggling to have access to or afford these essential items."
Ms Read encouraged people to donate to Mrs Wildman's cause at sharethedignity.org.au/fundraisers/Tooinspiredtobetired.
She said the donations would go towards the Pink Box Dignity Vending Machines, which provided Period Packs to those in need.
There were three Pink Boxes in Bendigo - one at Haven; Home, Safe, and two at the Bendigo Community Health Services sites.
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