Stand Up Comedy to pay for funerals of women who are victims of domestic violence

This October comedians around the country will stand up to shine a spotlight on domestic violence in Australia. The #IStandUp comedy nights will take place simultaneously around the country in all eight Australian capital cities on 14th October 2016, to raise money to pay for the funerals of women who die as the result of domestic violence.

The nation’s domestic violence epidemic has seen one million Australian women endure physical or sexual violence, emotional abuse or stalking in the last year alone, and 75 of these women lost their lives as a result – that’s more than one per week. Already in 2016, 41 women have lost their lives to domestic violence.

As only comedy can do, #IStandUp serves to highlight what is a very un-funny subject by making people laugh.

Comedic superstars Dave Thornton and Celeste Barber have already put their hands up to participate (in Melbourne and Sydney respectively), Anne Ferguson-Howe will lead the night in Brisbane, and Elaine Walton is scheduled to headline in Darwin. Local comedians in each state also featuring in the line-ups, and more acts will be announced in the coming weeks.

The #IStandUp comedy events are an initiative of Share The Dignity, a registered charitable organisation well known for its work to supply sanity products to homeless women. Money raised through the #IStandUp events will be used to pay for the funerals of women who die as a result of domestic violence. Often severely isolated, the result is that many of these women do not have the dignity of a formal funeral ceremony – something Share the Dignity wishes to change.

Share the Dignity was founded in early 2015 when Rochelle Courtenay was shocked to learn of the struggle of so many Australian women who suffer because they do not have access to basic sanitary items. A monthly period is an inconvenience to most of us, but for many it is a shameful and traumatic experience. Rochelle decided that no woman should suffer the indignity of choosing between eating and buying basic sanitary items.

Tickets for the #IStandUp comedy nights on 14th October start from $49. For full event details and ticket information visit www.sharethedignity.com.au where you can also buy t-shirts and other merchandise to support the charity.