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AFL legend Gary Ablett and wife Jordan launch the 1 Million Pledge, uniting Australians to fund life-saving care for mothers and babies worldwide.

A new global movement co-founded by AFL great Gary Ablett and his wife Jordan is calling on Australians to unite behind a powerful cause, with the official launch of the 1 Million Pledge on 1 June.

The ambitious campaign aims to unite one million people to raise $100 each, funding life-saving care and support for vulnerable mums and babies around the world.

A Crisis Unfolding in Plain Sight

Driving the movement is a heartbreaking reality. Every two minutes, a mother loses her life to pregnancy or childbirth complications, with 87% of these deaths occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

At the same time, five million babies don’t reach their first birthday each year — the equivalent of one newborn lost every six seconds — largely due to preventable causes such as malnutrition, limited access to medical care and unsafe living conditions.

Gary Ablett said those statistics were impossible to ignore.

“When you hear that a baby is lost every six seconds, it’s hard to comprehend — but even harder to accept,” Ablett said.

“As parents, Jordan and I know just how critical those early months and years are. The 1 Million Pledge is about doing something meaningful to ensure no mother or baby is left behind.”

Where Your Pledge Goes

The registered charity has partnered with leading international aid organisation, Compassion Australia, to deliver life-saving support and programs for mums and babies during pregnancy and throughout a child’s first year of life.

The campaign aims to fund critical programs, including access to maternal and newborn health care, nutritional support for mothers and babies and community-based support networks.

Jordan Ablett said becoming a mother to Levi, Grace and Ezra deepened her understanding of how important early support is for families.

“Becoming a mum gave me a new perspective on how vulnerable those early days can be,” Jordan Ablett said.

“We know how life-changing the right support can be, and we want to help ensure mums everywhere have access to the care they need.”

Join the Movement

With the 1 June launch, the Abletts hope Australians will join a movement that creates lasting, generational change.

“When we unite behind a cause like this, the difference we can make is extraordinary,” Ablett said.

“Anyone can take the pledge. Anyone can be one in a million.”

The 1 Million Pledge is open for individuals, teams, schools and workplaces to join via the website at www.1millionpledge.com