It was important that Cherry Blossom supported and raised awareness for Baby Loss awareness week. We wanted to use a number that was meaningful for Infant loss. We found that the number 13 represented babies lost before, during and in the 28 days after birth.
Supporters used Cherry Blossom Challenge 13 to fundraise and raise awareness. We have completed a variety of activities including, Walking 13 miles, Cycling 13 miles, Swimming 13 miles, baking and selling 13 cakes to name but a few of the activities undertaken by our supporters leading up to Baby Loss awareness week.
Baby Loss awareness week commenced on the 9th October with a beautiful and moving remembrance service at St Andrews in Crewe by Revd Oliver and Rev’d Peter. We requested that parents had the opportunity to write their infant’s name on a butterfly which was then pinned to a Cherry Blossom tree and each infant’s name was read out during the service. The tree will remain in the Church and we hope to make the remembrance service an annual event. Remembrance Butterflies, ribbons and friendship bracelets made by supporters were all available.
Turning ‘blue and pink’ was another major factor in raising awareness and we turned our offices on Beech Drive Blue and Pink for the duration of the week. Supporters wore blue and pink ribbons or friendship bracelets and Winsford Town Council arranged for the historic Guildhall Building to be lit blue and pink for the week .Winsford Mayor Joanne Moorcroft and The Banks, who are a local fundraising family, came to support Cherry Blossom.
The week ended with the lighting of a candle at 7pm. We are thrilled to have raised funds and awareness, at the moment the amount is £1150, but there are still some activities to be completed so the figure will be even higher!
Thank you all to all of those who helped to raise funds and raise awareness to make it such a success.
As a reminder, Cherry Blossom offers support after infant loss with a range of services including, 1 to 1 counselling, Peer Support groups, Mentoring, Baby Naming Certificates and Remembrance butterflies.