Charity out of tragedy

Ashley Baxendale and her partner Alex Wade donated memory boxes and a cheque £1006.88 to the Bassetlaw Hospital Maternity Unit on Tuesday in memory of their baby who was stillborn. At the presentation were (left to right): midwife, Jenna Atherton; clinical lead midwife, Karen Cousins; head of midwifery, Deirdre Fowler and midwife Maura Moss

Ashley Baxendale and Alex Wade raised the money after their baby son, Harry Alex Wade, was stillborn in May last year.

Eighty family members and friends took part in a charity walk in June from Worksop town centre to Clumber Park.

The cooling device is designed to be put under the mattress of a baby’s crib, allowing parents and families to keep their baby close to them for longer.

Ashley has also made memory boxes to support other parents and families experiencing the heartache of stillbirth or neonatal death.

The boxes help parents and families to create special memories of their baby.

“We would like to thank staff on the labour ward at Bassetlaw Hospital for the help and support given during this difficult time, and thank you to everyone who took part in the charity walk,” said the couple.

Midwife Karen Cousins, clinical lead on the Bassetlaw labour ward said: “It is heartbreaking when babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth.”

“We are immensely grateful to Ashley and Alex for their thoughtfulness at a time of such grief in their own lives.”

“The money they have raised will be put to very good use to help other families experiencing the tragic loss of their baby.”