Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nomination – Laura and Rich Swinscoe
Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year nomination – Laura and Rich Swinscoe
Laura and Rich Swinscoe completed seven challenges, including cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats, to fundraise in memory of their son who was born sleeping at 29 weeks.
The couple wanted to thank staff at the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust who cared for them by raising money for the Forget Me Not Suite.
Their challenges, which included the Yorkshire Three Peaks, a Snowdon hike and Rich cycling from Lands End to John O’Groats, raised £4,185 for the suite and were completed in time for what would have been Cub’s first birthday.
Laura, an Advanced Physiotherapist in the Critical Care Unit, has worked at UHNM for more than 12 years but never knew the Forget Me Not Suite existed.
She said: “Our son Cub was born sleeping on July 16, 2022 weighing 3lb at just 29 weeks old. Our care on the Forget Me Not Suite was exemplary and compassionate and gave us a comfortable, quiet environment away from the main busy maternity ward.
“The team of specialist bereavement midwives were caring and thoughtful throughout our stay of two and a half days. They were very patient when discussing the difficult decisions we were having to make and provided a lot of support surrounding this.
“Each member of staff took time to fully explain the process and went above and beyond in showing their compassion to our particular situation and tried to make us both as comfortable as possible at all times.
“We felt fundraising for the Suite through UHNM Charity was a fitting way to say thank you to the staff who had helped care for us and Cub. We know we unfortunately can’t prevent other families from experiencing baby loss, but we wanted to give something back to the service so those that follow could have as positive experience as possible.
“It was also a way of us using our situation to raise the profile of the essential service and generally raise awareness surrounding baby loss, as it is a subject that is often not openly discussed.”
“We chose these walking and cycling activities, as they are already things we love to do, but we wanted to take it to another level by pushing the distances and physicality of them. We are both big advocates for being outside in nature and using exercise in the outdoors as an essential aspect of mental and physical health. Part of our healing process was completing these challenges.”
Laura and Rich’s fundraising was also generously supported by Cannock Ladies’ Hockey Club Second Team, who completed RED January raising £1,150.
Laura added: “We are proud that we have hopefully made a positive contribution to a much needed part of the service and are motivated to do more and continue to raise awareness of the service and baby loss in general to help try and support families in a similar situation to ourselves.”
Rich said: “Our fundraising doesn’t even come close to how we feel about what the staff on the Forget Me Not Suite did for us and do for a lot of people. What they do is incredible at a point where some people wouldn’t know where to turn to.”
Sarah Lake, Bereavement Specialist Midwife, said: “I think Laura and Rich’s achievements for the benefit and support of other parents who use the service is incredible and very brave.”
Laura and Rich have been nominated in the Charity Champion or Volunteer of the Year category of the Your Heroes Awards.