BOUQUET OF THE WEEK Stacey praised for supporting family

A devoted mum and sister who has been fundraising in her niece’s memory has been named the recipient of this week’s Echo Bouquet of the Week.

Stacey Thomas, from Cardiff, is mum Kirsty’s sister. She set up the Annie’s Rainbows fund to fundraise in aid of Noah’s Ark Charity Tiny Lives Appeal.

Kirsty’s daughter Annie was born prematurely on October 28 last year, weighing three pounds – nearly half the weight of her twin brother, Henry.

Annie had been born with two holes in her heart and needed surgery but was too small to have an operation. She died peacefully in her mother Kirsty’s arms just before Christmas.

Doctors also thought baby Annie had Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS), a rare genetic development disorder which affects many parts of the body. She was just six weeks old.

Devastated by their loss, the family – along with Henry and his 12-year-old brother George – has rallied to fundraise in Annie’s memory.

Kirsty and dad Tom have pledged to raise £13,000 for a new incubator to help other babies in need. Called Annie’s Rainbows fund, they are aiming to run it for a year and finish fundraising on December 14, 2017, the anniversary of her death.

And a big part of that fundraising drive so far has been Kirsty’s sister, Stacey.

Now living in Barry, Stacey, mum to twin boys Rhys and Owen, is helping the other co-ordinators and supporters with a gala dinner in April at Coleg y Cymoedd, zumbathons spinathons and half marathons to raise funds – as well as the Cardiff Bay Run on April 2.

Stacey was nominated for all her hard work by Annie’s Rainbows coordinator Karen Jones, from Cardiff.

Stacey, 38, said: “I never expected it. There’s so many people helping us and supporting us and they have been since day one.”

If you know someone who deserves a Bouquet of the Week, email your nomination, with reasons, and your name, address and telephone number, to echo.newsdesk@walesonline.co.uk and mark it Bouquet of the Week. You can also write to South Wales Echo, Six Park Street, Cardiff CF10 1XR. Usual Media Wales terms and conditions apply and all nominees must agree to be photographed.