You can bank on the Brightest Star
TSB to host fundraiser with bereavement charity
A charity that supports bereaved parents will take up residence at a High Street bank to help raise funds.
Brightest Star was set up in memory of Jack Kennedy who died aged five in December 2012.
His mum Arlene Smith, together with Jack’s dad Derek Kennedy, set up the charity in February 2013.
Since then it has set up support groups in Glasgow and Edinburgh for bereaved parents; distributed memory boxes; provided group therapy; trained people in emergency paediatric first aid; donated cuddle cots and cuddle blankets to children’s wards and donated Christmas gifts.
In February, Arlene was delighted the charity finally achieved its aim of providing a custom built family ambulance.
The charity was named as the partner of the TSB branch in Paisley’s High Street back in 2017 and has since donated more than £1,500.
And on the morning of Friday, December 14, representatives from Brightest Star will be at the branch to raise awareness and vital funds as part of Local Charities Day.
The day is an UK annual event aimed at showcasing the vital work that local charities do week in and week out, and TSB is supporting the event across the country.
Arlene said: “TSB’s ongoing support for our charity is a huge help.
“It’s great to see a national company supporting the communities they serve at such a local level.”
Kay Cairns, bank manager of TSB Paisley, said: “I’m delighted to welcome our local charity partner Brightest Star to spend the Morning at our branch here in Paisley.
“Local charities play a vital role in supporting the daily lives of thousands of people across the UK, and they need our support.
“TSB is all about people helping people and through our partnership I’ve learnt so much about the incredible work that Brightest Star does to do exactly that in our community.
“Local Charities Day is a great opportunity for us to say thank you to charities and help spread the word, so more of us can hear about the fantastic work they do, and find out more about how we can support them.”
Jack died in December 2012, just six days before he was due to turn six.
The St James’ Primary pupil was staying with his dad and had gone to bed with a temperature on December 17.
When Derek tried to wake him for school the next morning, he was unconscious.
He was taken to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, where doctors confirmed a lack of oxygen had caused brain damage.
After being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh, Jack fought bravely for 24 hours, despite having heart, kidney and liver damage.
On December 19, blood tests showed that Jack had a virus that attacked his heart and made it stop.
He sadly passed away that night with his parents by his side.
Since Jack’s death, Arlene has touched the hearts of thousands of people with her emotional online posts about grieving and loss.
She married Paul Smith in September 2016 after meeting him at a charity run.
The couple announced in June they were expecting a baby, who is due on Jack’s birthday, Christmas Day.