Carrie Bickmore responds to beanie clash: "I wish I had waited another few days."

Carrie Bickmore offered a heartfelt apology and explanation to those who took issue with the fact the launch of her charity’s beanies coincided with another high-profile charity event on Monday.

The Project host’s announcement that her new range of Beanies 4 Brain Cancer were on sale attracted some backlash, as it fell on the same day of AFL legend Neale Daniher’s Big Freeze at The ‘G.

Both charities promoted the sale of beanies to raise money and awareness, with Daniher leading a campaign to fund research for motor neurone disease, the degenerative illness he suffers.

Bickmore, who lost her husband Greg Lange to brain cancer in 2010, explained at the beginning of Tuesday night’s episode of The Project that the clash had been “completely unintentional”.

“We were due to launch our beanies a couple of weeks ago, but they didn’t arrive in time. So we had to push it back a few weeks and in the busy-ness of making it all happen and keeping our supporters happy we didn’t take note of the fact the new date then clashed with Neale’s Freeze at the G,” the 36-year-old said.

“We just wanted to get the beanies out to everyone and now I wish more than ever that I had waited another few days.”

Bickmore said she spoke to Neale Daniher, who told her he had an “incredibly successful campaign yesterday”, later adding that his beanies had sold out.

The host became emotional as she spoke of the hard work channelled into the Beanies for Brain Cancer campaign and her devastation that people thought she would attempt to ruin someone else’s efforts.

“We both pour our heart and souls into these campaigns and I have been absolutely gutted that anyone would think I would try and derail someone else’s lifesaving work. I just wouldn’t,” she said, fighting back tears.

A post shared by Carrie Bickmore (@bickmorecarrie) on Jun 12, 2017 at 12:53am PDT

“It doesn’t benefit us in any way to do that. I am just bummed that this is what is being talked about.”

The mum-of-two said instead Australians should be celebrating the fact we live in an “incredibly generous country” with the “most wonderful souls who want to see an end to all forms of brain disease as much as we do”.

“We are all in this together. Thank you everyone for your generosity. Thanks for all your support to both foundations,” she said.

Before offering the explanation, Bickmore had told viewers that her charity had sold out of adult beanies, which is a fantastic result.

Listen: Carrie Bickmore talks about how she manages on I Don’t Know How She Does It.

“I just wanted to start by saying thank you to Australia. Last night we launched our beanie campaign and the result blew me away.”

“We have sold out of our adult’s beanie and still have some kids beanies left, but we had so many people who missed out we now have made the decision to order some more, so if you missed out go online now and place your order.

“But please keep in mind there will be an 8-week wait to get your beanie. Please only order if you are happy to wait. You have 48 hours now to order.”

You can order Carrie Bickmore’s beanies in a variety of styles here. 

You can support Neale Daniher’s Big Freeze 3 by donating at FightMND.org.au.