Oh baby! It’s showtime for tiny tots

Raising cash for vital research

Little crackers at an Airdrie- based baby sensory and toddler sense group will be donning glitzy costumes and waving their jazz hands to collect cash for children’s charity Tommy’s as they take part in a “Showtime Sensathon”.

The team at Lanarkshire and South Glasgow Sensory Ltd’s class in Cairnlea Parish Church will be sponsored to complete a set of challenges to fund vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

The group’s sessions will see babies from birth to four years dressing as Showtime stage stars as they set out to save their fellow infants’ lives.

Top hats, sparkly dresses and Elvis outfits are all expected to make an appearance on the toddlers.

Organisers aim to raise £ 500,000 from baby sensory and toddler sense classes held across Scotland.

The money raised will help fund Tommy’s four research centres which play a crucial role as one in four parents in the UK lose a baby during pregnancy or birth and 60,000 babies are born prematurely each year.

Amanda Findlay, 39, franchisee of Lanarkshire and South Glasgow Sensory, said: “I come from a nursing background so I understand the importance of evidence-based research and how it can change people’s lives.

“Personally, having worked in gynaecology and early pregnancy for 10 years before joining the team, I have seen firsthand how devastating pregnancy loss can be.

“Unfortunately miscarriage, stillbirth and premature births still carry a lot of stigma and many women suffer their loss in private.

“We want to help raise as much funds as possible to support the important work that Tommy’s do and, in particular, the money raised in Scotland will be going to their Edinburgh Research Centre – helping people local to our classes.”

The Cairnlea Parish Church classes run on Fridays from 11am until 12 noon. To find out more about the sessions, and the group’s fundraising effort, visit www.facebook.com/ BabySensoryandToddlerSense LanarkshireandGlasgow or email amanda. findlay@ babysensory.co.uk

Lots of fun The sensory team hold classes at Airdrie’s Cairnlea Parish Church

Little voice Eight-month-old Erica Orr prepares to belt out a tune

Legendary stars Getting ready for the “Showtime Sensathon”