Baby loss charity helps to raise funds and awarness

East Kent Sands baby loss charity held two awareness events in Ashford at the weekend as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The group raised nearly £700 on the day through its smiley face tombola, face painting and donations with an awareness event at County Square last Saturday.

Sands treasurer Chris Twydell, whose grandson, Liam, was stillborn in 2004, said: “Many people assume babies rarely die, but it is a sad fact that in any one week in the UK more than 100 babies will die, either before, during or soon after birth.

“No one ever thinks it will happen to them, but every day around 15 more families face the nightmare of knowing the baby they had longed for has died.

“It is a tragedy that can happen to anyone and can be devastating, not only for the parents, but also their families and friends.

“The week is a special opportunity to remember their precious child, to encourage people to talk openly about the subject and raise awareness of pregnancy, baby and infant loss.

“Although baby loss is a serious and sad issue, we make sure our volunteers have fun, while raising awareness and money.”

On Saturday night in the Sands baby memorial garden in Ashford Memorial Gardens, families joined in the annual Wave of Light, where candles are lit across the world creating a wave of light with different time zones, with poems and a reading of more than 170 names of babies who have died.

East Kent Sands, run by volunteers who have had direct experience of baby loss, offer a monthly support group in Ashford and run the baby memorial garden.

They also offer support including memory boxes to anyone affected by the death of a baby and work with the William Harvey and QEQM Hospitals in Margate to improve services and provide free training for midwives in bereavement care.

For more information visit www.kentsands.com

Picture: Gary Browne East Kent Sands volunteers during their fundraising day at County Square