10 Jul Join Kingston Hospital Charity for a Night to Remember
Kingston Hospital Charity is calling on the local community to raise funds to support bereaved families at Kingston Hospital, by taking part a Night to Remember this autumn.
The event, taking place on Saturday 10 September, is Kingston Hospital Charity’s first memory walk, providing an opportunity for family, friends, and colleagues to come together and celebrate the lives of loved ones, while walking a route of five or 15 miles, starting and finishing at the Market Place in Kingston.
Proceeds from the sponsored walk will help Kingston Hospital expand its support for bereaved families.
Husband and wife, Garett and Alison Farrell, from Wimbledon will be taking part in a Night to Remember along with their eight-month-old son Axel, in memory of their first child, Finn.
Alison said: “Our first baby, Finn, was born sleeping in August 2020 after a cord accident at 20 weeks. Words cannot describe our grief and how hard it was to give birth to and say goodbye to our little boy all in the space of a few dreadful days. Thankfully we were in the amazing hands of the Kingston Maternity Unit team in the purpose-built Daisy Room, which made this incredibly hard time bearable and gave us a chance to say a proper goodbye.
“Since then, we have been blessed with a second son, Axel (middle name Finn), and again the wonderful people of Kingston Maternity Unit carried us through the worries of this pregnancy with extra special care. We’re forever indebted to them for the support they gave us that means we’re here today as a happy family unit. We will be taking part in a Night to Remember for our darling Finn, but also for all the other babies and families affected by loss who are never forgotten.”
Clinical psychologist and Founder and CEO of the Loss Foundation, Dr Erin Hope Thompson MBE, provides support to bereaved families at Kingston Hospital’s maternity unit.
A £100 donation or sponsorship raised for Kingston Hospital Charity, funds one session with Erin for a bereaved family.
Dr Thompson said: “The money raised from a Night to Remember will go towards providing bereavement support to families who experience the death of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after birth. I have been providing support to families who have experienced baby loss for nearly three years and have witnessed how vital this support is during such a difficult time.
“Experiencing the death of a child is life altering, and not having support in place can be hugely isolating and can put people at risk of further mental health struggles. It is my privilege to provide a space for people to talk, to get support, to keep connection to their baby, and to manage anxiety around future pregnancies. Thank you for taking part in a Night to Remember and helping us to continue to support people during the most difficult times in their lives.”
Registration for the event costs £20 for adults and £10 for children, and each participant will receive a t-shirt and a medal.
Click here to sign up or contact Fundraising Manager Tracey Shaw by emailing tracey.shaw17@nhs.net or calling 020 8973 5040.