Wednesday 8 August 2012

Why 17?

logo_sandsA few yeas ago, some blokes from our church did a sponsored coast to coast cycle ride in aid of SANDS.

I knew nothing about this excellent charity before then, but Ray thoughtfully arranged for a work colleague with direct experience of their work to come and speak to us. Recently, another blogfriend, Debbie, has movingly shared with us her own story, of the birth – and death – of little Daisy on July 3rd. Debbie has told of the support she [and her family]  received from SANDS and their Why17?campaign. With the further sad news this week of Gary Barlow’s family, I felt it would be good to publicise the charity here. My two pregnancies were in no way ‘straightforward’ – but I thank God daily for my two healthy, adult daughters. The information below explains why I feel this campaign deserves support.

SandsWhy17

Every day in the UK 17 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth, why?

This is a loss of 6500 babies each year in the UK alone, a shocking figure equivalent to:

  • sixteen jumbo jets crashing each year
  • four times the number of people who die of MRSA each year
  • twice the number of people killed on our roads each year.

Sands believe this number of deaths is totally unacceptable and launched the Why 17? Campaign to raise awareness of this loss and to ask the question: 

"Why are 17 babies a day dying and what can be done to halt this national tragedy?"

The campaign will run till 2014 and aims to raise £3 million to develop and support projects that will lead to changes in practice that could save babies’ lives and fund research into the causes and prevention of stillbirths and neonatal deaths.

Find out more, and give a donation here

why17

And please, remember Debbie, Gary and other grieving families in your prayers.

5 comments:

  1. Mum and Dad lost a son at two days old. They had no support at all, Mum didn't even get to see her boy.
    Jane x

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  2. SANDS were brilliant to me. My babies died during pregnancy and really "count" as late miscarriages but SANDS arranged counselling support and asked if I would like our babies' names entered in their memorial book at the hospital - which we did.
    I can not praise them enough - they got us through some very very dark days.
    L.x.

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  3. Thank you for making me aware of this charity, my role at work involves dealing with grieving parents and it's always good to know there is support we can hand them over to x

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  4. Hi Angela, thank you so much for your continued support during what has been a very difficult time for me and my family.

    Best Wishes
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete

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