An Australian comedian who won over fans with her celebrity parodies on Instagram has helped raise a staggering $25 million to help fight deadly bushfires.
By early-evening Sunday, Celeste Barber had raised more than $25.27 million from 602,311 donations in three days.
Barber, who has 6.4 million Instagram followers, drew pledges from as far as the UK, US, France and Italy in her bid to raise $25 million for the NSW Rural Fire Service.
The comedian posted photos on Friday of a fire-red sky bearing down on her mother-in-law’s NSW house.
“It’s terrifying. They are scared. They need your help,” she wrote on Facebook.
On Saturday, she reported her family was being evacuated: “I feel sick.”
American pop star Pink has pledged $500,000 for Aussie fire services.
“I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires,” the singer tweeted to her 32 million Twitter followers on Saturday.
“I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the front lines.
“My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz fire services.”
Australian celebrity couple Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman also announced they had donated $500,000 dollars to the Rural Fire Services “who are all doing and giving so much right now”.
There is growing global and celebrity support for bushfire fundraising efforts, with reality TV star Kim Kardashian West among those lending support by sharing social media links on how to donate.
By Melissa Iaria
