Halfway there after £50k boost
4LOUIS BIDS TO RAISE £100,000 FOR HOSPITAL BEREAVEMENT SUITE
a Difference Fund partner.
As a result, 4Louis, which supports families who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal or child death, is among four funds across the country and one in Paris which has been gifted the £50,000 windfall.
More than 70 organisations applied to be a partner charity and 4Louis was the initiative selected for Sunderland after a shortlist was put to a company vote.
One of the key ways 4Louis helps couples is by producing memory boxes to enable bereaved parents to create a collection of memories.
It now wants to create a bereavement suite at University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, following on from the successful introduction of a similar facility at Sunderland Royal Hospital.
The suite will allow parents, family and friends time and space to grieve with their stillborn babies away from the sight and sounds of other families celebrating new arrivals.
It is estimated about 360 people a year will benefit from using the new room.
Kirsty McGurrell, a trustee and founder of 4Louis, launched the charity after the loss of her first child Louis, who died 12 days before his due date in 2009.
She said: “4Louis is overwhelmed by the support received from BGL.
“What a difference not only the £50,000 will make to our work, but to receive ongoing support from the team at Sunderland will also help us in making a huge difference.
“The £50,000 will be used towards the £100,000 funding to the new bereavement suite at the University Hospital of North Durham.
“We want to thank all the staff who voted for us and made this possible.”
Last month the charity revealed it had worked with the makers of Emmerdale as they wrote scenes about the loss of a baby to characters Paddy and Chas, showing viewers how couples should be supported in the time after their child’s death.
BGL’s chief executive, Matthew Donaldson, said: “Supporting the community is part of who we are at BGL.”
For more details about the charity, visit 4louis.co.uk/.