Following on from the disappointment of having to cancel last years event due to the Omnicron strain of Covid, we were delighted to be joined in person, and virtually, by supporters ready to hear about our Christmas Appeal and to sing much-loved Christmas hymns.
The event was a huge success and helped us raise £7,000, and counting, which will help us hit our £40,000 Christmas target.
We are aiming to raise £40,000 to soundproof and refurbish the two bereavement suites that are in our maternity unit so we can minimise the stress and trauma of external noises so grieving parents can take a moment to themselves to spend precious time with their sleeping babies.
We were extremely grateful to be joined on the evening by two very special midwives who told us about their roles within the bereavement and rainbow teams at Royal Berks Hospital and how the money raised from the night will make such a huge difference to parents who will, unfortunately, have to use the suites in the future.
We were also joined by two parents who have had to experience the suites on two separate occasions after losing their baby girl and a baby boy who read a beautiful poem – we know that talking about the loss of a baby is a sensitive subject and we have been lucky enough to have heard the stories of three of our service users over the course of this appeal with more stories being told by our supporters who, in some cases, have never spoken about their own loss.
To find out more about the Christmas Appeal, or to make a donation, please visit www.royalberkscharity.co.uk/christmas