About
Welcome to Milkshakes for Marleigh Community
Where those who have needed blood thank their donors
and encourage new ones
Here you will find extraordinary stories of survival thanks to Australian blood donors. If you have ever been a donor you can wonder you saved, improved or longed the life of the people who feature in the stories we tell across the Milkshakes for Marleigh platforms
Kate Fisher is the Founder of Milkshakes for Marleigh and Australia’s primary blood donation advocate. She she is on a mission to end persistent critical blood shortages in Australia and around the world.
Lives saved in 2024
Whole Blood Donors
Plasma Donors
Platelets Donors
Stream the podcast from every major platform
Meet your host
Kate Fisher
Best selling author and award winning postcast host
Kate is the host and producer of The Milkshakes for Marleigh Podcast where she tells the survival stories of blood product recipients. This is her creative solution to the social problem that not enough people donate blood. Only 1 in 30 Australians donate blood and yet 1 in 3 will need it in their lifetime. Kate is on a mission to change that, while thanking as many blood donors as she can along the way. You can find the Milkshakes for Marleigh podcast on your favourite podcast platform.
Kate is a mother at the helm of a family with additional needs. Kate has four children, three of them are living and like her, they have various complex medical conditions, physical and neurodevelopmental disabilities. She is helplessly in love with her husband Geoff and adores navigating their crazy, challenging, joy filled life together.
Kate was initially inspired by her daughter Marleigh who became unwell at the age of three and was eventually diagnosed with Seronegative Paediatric Autoimmune Encephalitis. This is a life-threatening condition with no cure, however treatment is possible with Intravenous Immunoglobulin Infusions (IVIG) made from donated human plasma. For Marleigh this treatment is lifesaving during the acute phases of her illness and life preserving for every infusion in between. Marleigh will be dependent on blood donors for life. She is now eight-years-old and has blown out five bonus set of birthday candles thanks to Australian blood donors. Kate encourages people to donate blood for the Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood team so she can track the number of donations made by people inspired by Marleigh’s incredible story of survival.
Please book your donation here today! Those outside Australia can share their stories and blood donations via the Milkshakes for Marleigh social media channels.
Available in bookstores June 2024
Extraordinary tales of survival
thanks to Australian blood donors
In 2024, Kate published her first book called Milkshakes for Marleigh which tells extraordinary tales of survival thanks to Australian blood donors. Like the podcast, the concept of the book is that if you have ever been a blood donor, you can read a story in the book and wonder if you were the blood donor who saved their life?
It is her most recent tool in her blood donation advocacy and will be available in all good bookstores in June 2024.
Donate Blood Today
Shakes for Jakes
Lifeblood subteam for Kate’s Brother
Since founding Milkshakes for Marleigh in 2021, Kate’s brother Jake has also become a regular whole blood, platelet and plasma recipient as he undergoes treatment for Lymphoma. This has included many rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Jake is currently recovering on his farm near Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, spending days with his wife Suzanne and two beautiful little girls Evie and Abbigail spending days swimming in their pool, chasing chooks and riding their ponies all thanks to having his life saved and prolonged by Australian blood donors. His family now encourages people to donate blood for the Lifeblood Team: #ShakesforJake is a subteam of The Milkshakes for Marleigh Lifeblood Team.
What others say
Testimonials
milkshakes_for_marleigh
Our precious surviving twin, Campbell Benjamin graduated from primary school last night!
We were beyond proud to see him receive merit awards for Persistence and Determination; Environment and Peer Mentoring.
We’ve always said to our kids that all the we ask it that they show kindness and respect and that they give things a red hot crack!
So proud that he has been offered a spot at the high school of his choice that will support his passions, interests and his unique character and style of learning.
Marleigh is going to miss his protective presence when he heads off to his new school next year but I know it will give them both a chance to grow!
It’s a joy to be their mum!
#survivingtwin #graduation #thanksteachers #schoolsout #week11 #wtf #readyforchristmasmovies #milkshakesformarleigh #siblinglove
Donations done today for “It’s in the Bag” @sharethedignityaustralia campaign to make the world brighter for vulnerable woman and girls this Christmas. @bunnings
We donated 5 bags this year filled with essential toiletries, menstrual products, drink bottles, hats and some treats of beauty products, hair accessories and copies of The @milkshakes_for_marleigh and Women Making a Difference books.
As a family, we try to start the festive season by donating clothes, books or toys that we no longer need; we purchase toys for the Kmart Wishing tree and this week Marleigh also bought some meals for vulnerable dogs in need through a pet shop fundraiser.
Congratulations to @rochellecourtenay for another extraordinary campaign making the world brighter for vulnerable women in Australia.
I had the honour of spending time with Rochelle earlier this year at the @ausmumpreneur Conference and awards where we were both finalists on The Woman Changing the World category.
Share the Dignity is a women’s charity in Australia, that works to make a real difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence, or doing it tough. They distribute period products to women, girls, and anyone who menstruates who needs support. When someone is doing it tough, the last thing on their mind should be dealing with their period.
#womenmakingadifference @thewomenchangingtheworld #milkshakesformarleigh #itsinthebag #sharethedignity #australia #femalefounders
#throwback to March 2024!
On the road with the @milkshakes_for_marleigh book!
Book tour stops included:
- Visits with BFFs in Canberra including a signing @thebookcowkingston
- The Soulful Sisterhood retreat hosted by the remarkable @the_mumma_nest and @thelauraaura_
- Hangs with @wainwrightholly in Berry, NSW
- Culburra beach, NSW for my Grandad’s 95th birthday party
- Merimbula, NSW as an early 40th birthday getaway
- @saltireads Bulcock Beach, Caloundra, QLD
- Easter at The @lifebloodau Donor Centre at Maroochydore, QLD with @jodie_miles
The needs for blood donation and blood donation advocacy never stops so weave it into all of our family adventures!
#milkshakesformarleigh #book #podcast #bestseller #booktour #canberra #merimbula #berry #soulfulsisterhood #retreat #culburrabeach #maroochydore #lifeblood
#saltireads
Earlier this week I was named in @msn ‘s Top 10 Pioneering Entrepreneur’s for 2024 and while global recognition of my blood donation advocacy work is amazing…. Being sent messages like this is what fuels my passion for my work 👆
(Little line shamelessly pulled from @milkshakes_for_marleigh team blood donor @samueljjohnson78 😘😘)
Ash & I were at the same school and grew up showjumping together many moons ago! There is no better feedback that I can receive than having her make her first ever blood donation the same day that she listened to the @milkshakes_for_marleigh Podcast!
Messages like this is why it was names @ausmumpreneur Podcast of the Year for 2024!
So thrilling to hear that Ash saved 3 lives and also spotted a copy of The Milkshakes for Marleigh book at @lifebloodau while she was enjoying her milkshakes afterwards!
You can download the Milkshakes for Markeigh Podcast for free wherever you get your pods and the Milkshakes for Marleigh book is available via my website (link in bio) with FREE postage in November and December 2024.
#milkshakesformarleigh #podcast #msn #pioneer #entrepreneur #podcastoftheyear #podcastoftheyear2024 #ausmumpreneur #book #bestsellingauthor #australianstory #storyteller #podcastersofinstagram #donateblood #bookablooddonation #lifebloodau @edwinatopsalexander @rowanwillisshowjumper #showjumping #firsttimeblooddonor #lifesaver
I am absolutely honoured to have been announced as one of @msn ‘s Top Ten Pioneering Entrepreneurs of 2024, for the way @milkshakes_for_marleigh is “revolutionising blood donation advocacy on a global scale”.
“ Kate’s brainchild, Milkshakes for Marleigh, isn’t your average non-profit. It’s a creative cocktail of storytelling, advocacy, and life-saving action. Her award-winning podcast and bestselling book share tales of survival that’ll make you want to roll up your sleeves and donate blood faster than you can say “red cell count.”
Kate’s accolades? Impressive and well-earned. She has snagged the Women Changing the World Global Impact Award and turned heads at international summits. Her words have inspired business leaders worldwide to implement paid leave for blood donation. Talk about a ripple effect!
From podcasting to public speaking, writing books, and voicing audiobooks, Kate’s entrepreneurial spirit knows no bounds.”
#donateblood #milkshakesformarleigh #bookstagram #book #podcast #globalimpact #bookmeasaspeaker #publicspeaking #advocate #msn @thewomenchangingtheworld @lifebloodau @ausmumpreneur
