Worksop: Roses for two '˜phenomenal' ladies who raise funds for families who have lost babies

Two brave women who lost their babies and channelled their grief into providing support for other bereaved families have been honoured with Guardian Roses.
Guardian Rose presentation to Emma Pearson and Rachel Hodgers nominated by staff at Bassetlaw Hospital for their charity workGuardian Rose presentation to Emma Pearson and Rachel Hodgers nominated by staff at Bassetlaw Hospital for their charity work
Guardian Rose presentation to Emma Pearson and Rachel Hodgers nominated by staff at Bassetlaw Hospital for their charity work

Emma Pearson and Rachel Hodges, both from Worksop, were presented with the accolades in a surprise ceremony at Langold Lake on Monday, March 21.

Emma and Rachel have been praised for their work with charity Joel: The Complete Package, which provides a support network to Bassetlaw families trying to conceive again after losing their babies.

Founded by Emma and her friend Lisa Bramley in 2012, the charity has raised £35,000 for the installation of a bereavement suite at the Bassetlaw Hospital labour ward, which will create a comfortable and calming environment for grieving parents.

Sally Richardson, fundraiser at Bassetlaw Hospital, nominated the two women, who have both lost babies themselves, on behalf of labour ward staff.

Sally said: “We cannot thank Emma and Rachel enough for their hard work. They do everything together and certainly make a phenomenal team. They both cried when we presented them with the roses- it was so lovely to recognise them.”

The charity’s most recent project will see an oak tree planted at Langold Lake country park as a tribute to families in the area who have lost a baby.

The official planting of the tree will take place on Sunday, March 27, at 1pm. Parents will have the opportunity to add a pot of soil with their child’s name on and a balloon release will also take place as a mark of remembrance for ‘rainbow babies’ - a term used for a baby that is born following a miscarriage or still birth.

Visit http://www.joelthecompletepackage.co.uk for more information.