A group of us are pulling together to raise funds for YORK TEACHING HOSPITAL MATERNITY BEREAVEMENT SERVICES


A note from Annika
'On October 30th 2008, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl we named Gypsy. She was stillborn at 39wks 5days weighing 7lb 12oz. Once I knew Gypsy had died, I was taken to the labour ward and put in a room at the end of the corridor. The room was basic; it had a bed for me, equipment for labour and a bathroom that I could use, but nothing for my family. Due to the room’s location I could hear other women going through labour and hear their babies cry. This was such a hard thing to deal with when I knew that wasn’t going to be the same for me and that my baby would not scream but be born silent. I tried hard to stay as positive as I could; a comfort to me was thinking that I had prevented another mum or family going through the heartbreak I was going through, naively not knowing that then 17 babies in the UK die every day. (these statistics have been reduced to 15 babies now) 

No words could ever describe the pain I felt and still continue to go on feeling
In memory of Gypsy I vowed to raise money for the incredible Maternity Services at the Hospital. Although I didn’t have my daughter, the support they gave me was amazing and something I can look back at.
 
I successfully completed my first Challenge in October 2012 and since then have spearheaded an appeal to raise enough money for Scarborough Hospital to create a full Bereavement Suite. I have continued to raise awareness of stillbirth including an involvement in an All Party Parliamentary Group’s work on Bereavement leave and by making appearances on the BBC including the Victoria Derbyshire show. In 2016, the Prime Minister awarded My Husband James and I with a Points of Light award.

We are now heading towards the 10th Anniversary of Gypsy’s death and we decided that we would like to raise £10 000 for York Teaching Hospital this year for two reasons; to continue to increase awareness around stillbirth and child-loss and to raise vital funds for the hospital’s much needed Maternity Bereavement Suite.




Events that have taken since Feb 2018

THE BIG BALLOON POP 2018 - raising £1034.35   
The York - Helmsley Walk where 29 people took part in the 28 mile walk The Lyke Wake Walk ( done for SANDS charity)                                            Family Fun Day, A Yorkshire Quiz, Tv Past and Present Quiz

Child-loss,  its something that we don't always understand or even cope with to well,  but at a time when we don't know where to turn often midwives are people we can find comfort with. We can talk about our feelings, our children, we can cry with those who know
what we are going through they see this happen many time.

By supporting the Hospital we are not only helping those parents who will sadly go through what many of us have already,  but to help the midwifes with the way they can treat these parents and families.

If your looking at this page, you are not looking at one persons story,  you are looking at a whole family of stories.

Please do take time to sponsor us with our efforts.

We are currently preparing for our final event.... the Snowball on the 10th November 2018  If you would like to join us or have any questions,  please send me an email . Annika_dowson@yahoo.co.uk