"A truly heart-warming legacy": Lancashire parents honour memory of late baby daughter by helping others

Angela Rotherham and Ant Potts from Preston, whose baby daughter Sophia Grace was born sleeping, are honouring her memory by supporting other families who experience pregnancy loss, stillbirth or neonatal death.

Through their fundraising efforts, Angela and Ant have raised over £3,558, enabling the purchase of items such as an Abi Cuddle Cot from Abigail’s Footsteps and Aching Arms bears, which are gifted to bereaved families as part of memory making.

In addition, a £3,000 donation was made to Baby Beat in Sophia’s name by Angela’s employer, insurance broker Ardonagh, supporting the transformation of a second bereavement and family suite.

Following Sophia’s birth, Angela and Ant were cared for by the unit’s specialist bereavement team in its original suite, equipped with a cuddle cot that allowed Sophia to remain with her parents for five precious days.

During this time, they were able to make memories and introduce Sophia to loved ones.

They also received a memory box from baby loss charity 4Louis, filled with keepsakes and mementos, and an Aching Arms bear gifted in a gesture of comfort and solidarity from one bereaved family to another.

Angela said: “The room, cot, bear and memory box were all helpful to us, and we want others to benefit in the same way. We are so grateful to our family, friends and colleagues for supporting us in our fundraising.”

Much of the initial fundraising came from an online donation page set up around Sophia’s funeral.

Future funds are being raised through Sophia’s Scents, a range of hand-crafted scented wax melts, candles, whipped soaps and bath crystals created by Angela.

All profits go to babyloss charities and the products can be purchased via https://sophiagracescents.com or through Sophia’s Scents Facebook and Instagram pages.

Angela added: “All profits are for baby loss charities in our girl’s legacy and for all the angel babies gone too soon.

“October’s profits were donated to Blackburn Rovers Football Club’s dads’ group, run by Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy, which Sophia’s daddy attends.

“I also attend Maggie’s group meetings, so November’s profits are going to Maggie’s, with December’s, along with Sophia’s Christmas money, going to Baby Beat.”

Joanna Allitt, Fundraising Manager for Baby Beat, said: “Angela and Ant have repaid the kindness they received many times over. Their generosity has helped countless families through the most difficult times. In memory of Sophia, they have created a truly heart-warming legacy that ensures she will always be remembered.

Baby Beat supports the Royal Preston Hospital’s Sharoe Green Maternity Unit, which as well providing maternity care for mothers-to-be from Central Lancashire is also home to Lancashire and South Cumbria’s specialist Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

NICU looks after between 400-450 premature and poorly babies from across the north west annually.

For further information on Baby Beat’s work, which includes funding specialist equipment like the Abi Cot, patient services and comforts, clinical care, local research and training, visit www.babybeat.org.uk