Carer steps up to raise charity cash

A CHARITY ball will raise funds to support parents who have lost a baby during pregnancy, through stillbirth or neonatally.

The ball, in aid of the charity Stockport SANDS, will be at the Cheshire Conference and Events centre (Stockport County FC) on Saturday, October 6.

Stockport SANDS, launched in June 2017 by a group of parents who have lost babies themselves, also works closely with Stepping Hill hospital’s baby bereavement suite.

The Stockport arm of the national SANDS charity, it runs monthly support groups, offers daily email support, provides baby memorial boxes, midwife bereavement training and memorials.

The National SANDS charity also runs a support helpline and conducts research to help save babies’ lives.

Suzanne Harrison, one of the Stockport SANDS committee members, said: “The charity is so close to our hearts, as we are bereaved parents ourselves.

“We know first hand how devastating going through the loss of a baby is, which is why we decided to train and volunteer to run Stockport SANDS.

“We are holding our grand ball to raise money to build a baby memorial garden in Stockport and also to support the baby bereavement room at Stepping Hill Hospital.”

Tickets are £20 each, including food. Raffle tickets are £1 each. Email stockport@sands.org.uk.