Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Fun in the sun to remember little Florence
The mother of a baby girl who died says she is overwhelmed by the love and support shown at a charity day in memory of her daughter.
On Sunday, crowds flocked to Chartham memorial field for an action-packed day of activities in aid of the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London, Kent’s Demelza Hospice and the Ronald Mcdonald charity.
Florence Brockman spent 12 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit in the Evelina before being transferred to Demelza in March, where she spent her final hours.
Her parents, Bianca Davies and Jack Brockman, from Canterbury, were able to spend precious moments with the baby, who was born with congenital defects and developed a critically narrow airway, in Demelza’s Hop Garden bereavement suite.
To say thank you, the family arranged a day of activities to raise money for the three charities, involving a football match, live music, pony rides, games, stalls and a charity head shave.
Miss Davies said they are still counting the money raised, but they are on course to beat £4,000.
She said: “It was amazing. Kent Fire and Rescue Service were there and Kent Police with their riot van, which helped attract lots of people.
“We had a huge charity football match and each player donated £5, so that raised a lot. Businesses also donated a percentage of their profits.”
Miss Davies admits it was emotional and is overwhelmed that people gave up their Fathers’ Day to get involved.
She said: “There were so many people there, even people who didn’t know Florence or her story.”
“The actual day was thought up by Jasmine Brockman. It definitely did Florence justice. I know she was there with us on the day.”
Miss Davies says the family is hoping to do something similar every year and also a winter wonderland event in December, the month Florence was born.
“We’ve had so much support from the charities, we want to give something back to them,” she added.
To donate to the fund visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ jack-brockman24