Archer's Story
How your support changes lives
Every year, thousands of Australians come together for Do It For Dolly Day, helping to create a kinder, safer world for young people and families. The impact of your support is life-changing.
Last year on Do It For Dolly Day, we received a heartfelt letter from Shellee whose son Archer’s journey reflects the transformative power of the compassion and connection you help create.
Shellee's letter: A mother's journey
"My son Archer has always been a gentle soul, struggling with anxiety, self-worth, and feeling like he never quite fit in. As his mother, this was my worst fear.
From a young age, all he wanted was to be outside on our farm with the horses, where no one judged him. Reading and writing felt like torture to him.
When COVID-19 hit, the pandemic forced him into a world that didn’t respond well to children like Archer, who needed to be outdoors. The self-learning setup only deepened his belief that he couldn’t achieve anything.
By 16, after a serious self-harm attempt, we moved to Melbourne to engage with a broken mental health system. There was little in-hospital support for young people, and we had a child who no longer wanted to live.
During three suicide attempts, Archer was sectioned, hospitalized, and released back into our care. Finally, we gained some relief through the Royal Children's Hospital inpatient program, but we had already endured a horrendous 12 months of him begging us to let him go.
Through all of this, he constantly talked about 'Dolly' and his dream of working on a remote station. A beautiful silver kelpie named Dolly became instrumental in saving his life. Archer never took off his Dolly’s Dream boots, even in the hospital.
The only time we could get him to talk to medics was by using those boots as a conversation starter. He would tell them why he wore them and say, ‘I’m doing it for Dolly.’
Archer is braver than I can express. He has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, ADHD, Dyslexia, and anxiety/depression. These diagnoses explained why he always felt like he didn’t fit in.
Dolly’s Dream gave our son hope.
After months of immense support from his mental health team, medication, and his dog Dolly, Archer has been stable for six months. In February, he made it to a remote station in South Australia, fulfilling his dream.
I am so proud, and although I miss him terribly, I am grateful I still have him.
This year, Archer turned 18, around the same time Dolly would have celebrated her 21st birthday. I wanted to say: “Kate and Tick, thank you for your courage in sharing Dolly’s journey. It has had an incredible impact on Archer.”
And to everyone who supports Dolly’s Dream, thank you for helping families like ours.
Always take care, Shellee"
Together, we create change.
Archer’s journey is one of many made possible by your compassion and generosity. By supporting Do It For Dolly Day, you’re helping to build safer, kinder communities where young people like Archer can thrive.
Thank you for making hope possible. Together, we can turn Dolly’s dream into a reality.
