Charity day in memory of tragic Nuneaton baby

Determined parents who tragically lost their daughter aged just eleven days old want to raise £10,000 to support Nuneaton's special care baby unit.

It has been seven years since Annette and Craig Strong said their final goodbye to their little girl Jessica.

Jessica was born 14 weeks early at the George Eliot hospital but, because of her prematurity, she was moved to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire (UHNS).

She became ill and doctors took several blood samples but only identified a possible cause for her symptoms the day before her death - which proved to be too late.

Still grieving from their loss but keen for something good to come from their heartache, the couple, who live in Merevale Avenue, have organised a fund-raising day in aid of the special care baby unit at the 'Eliot.

"It is still hard, I have not really grieved properly, I have her ashes at home, I haven't laid her to rest yet," said 44-year-old Annette.

"It was my husband's idea to  do the fund-raiser, we have never done anything like this before but we have always wanted to do something for the special care baby unit. At the time, they didn't have the technology we needed for Jessica, that is why we were transferred,

"We want to raise £10,000 to buy them new equipment so that they can offer more for premature babies, so that babies can stay there and not be transferred elsewhere."

Supported by their four other children, whose ages range from 24 to six, the couple have organised a fun-filled charity day at the Griff and Coton Sport Club on Heath End Road, on Saturday, June 22.

It will run from 11.30am until 11.30pm and will include pony grooming, donkey rides, bouncy castles, photo booth, craft stalls, raffles, tombola, face painting.

There will also be four bands,  a disco and a karaoke in the evening.

Mrs Strong has appealed to the community to join in the fun.

"It would be great to see as many people as possible, we are determined to raise £10,000, we have banked £3,000 so far and we hope to hit the target on the day," she said.

Those who would like to have a stall during the event are being urged to come forward: "We have had a few drop out so it would be great to get some more," she said.

For more information contact Annette on 07910 990 937.

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