A couple from Wiltshire who lost their twin baby girls have raised more than £10,500 to help other grieving parents at the Royal United Hospital in Bath.
Bereavement Midwife Bex Walsh, midwives Louise Pidgeon and Robyn Clark, and Holly and Ali Jay | Photo © RUH
Ali and Holly Jay, from Grittleton, presented their cheque to midwives who cared for their family, marking the start of national Baby Loss Awareness Week activities at the hospital.
The donation to the RUH’s charity The Forever Friends Appeal will go towards creating an outdoor courtyard area next to the maternity unit’s Forget Me Not bereavement suite.
The couple completed a 24-hour, 70-mile sponsored walk around their neighbourhood, supported by friends, family and members of the community.
Ali said: “We can’t say thank you enough to everyone who helped us to raise this money, and thank you to the amazing RUH staff who’ve done so much for us.
“We really wanted to give back something to you and to do something positive to help other people who’ll experience the loss of a child.”
Bereavement Midwife Bex Walsh said: “We’re really grateful to Ali and Holly for this incredibly generous donation. It’ll make a real and lasting difference.
“It’s good too that this helps to raise awareness of baby loss so that families do not suffer in silence.
“Talking about baby loss will help mums, dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles feel able to share their grief and honour their baby’s memory.
“Our Forget Me Not bereavement suite provides a space away from the busy maternity ward where grieving families who have experienced the death of a baby can have the privacy they need at a particularly difficult time.
“Having a dedicated outdoor area will further improve this service we provide here.”
