Fundraising inspired by family tragedy
A YOUNG woman, who lost her baby within days of him being born, has organised a fun day in his memory to raise money for charity.
A YOUNG woman, who lost her baby within days of him being born, has organised a fun day in his memory to raise money for charity.
Dani Wren, 20, from Rushmere St Andrew, was left heartbroken when her 12-day-old son Charlie died of a rare virus in January 2008.
When she and her family took the traumatic decision of switching off the machine which was helping keep his heart and lungs working, she left Great Ormond Street Hospital distraught but knowing she wanted to help others.
Thanks to support and assistance from friends and family, the idea for Charlie's Day came up and is now due to take place on Saturday at Ipswich Wanderers Football Club, in Humber Doucy Lane, Ipswich.
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Charlie was born at Ipswich Hospital on Christmas Eve. He was taken home for four days but then Miss Wren noticed he was unwell and was having breathing difficulties.
She took him back to hospital and he began to deteriorate, as he needed to be ventilated and had to be given CPR. It was then decided to transfer him to Great Ormond Street, where he was placed in the neonatal intensive care unit and put a machine which delivered oxygen to his blood. During his time there, he suffered multiple organ failure, which left him brain damaged.
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Miss Wren, who lives with her parents in The Falcon pub, in Playford Road, said: “We came to the difficult decision to withdraw his intensive care. Charlie died immediately in my arms.
“Because of the care myself, the family and Charlie received, we have chosen to do a charity fund day in aid of Great Ormond Street so they can continue to care for other children and their families.
“I want to thank Jim Nicholls, my family and my friends for all their help.”
The fun day, which starts at 12pm, will include children's fancy dress, competitions, bouncy castles and slides, raffles and stalls. There will also be a bar for the adults and plenty of refreshments.
For more details e-mail charliesday@hotmail.co.uk or visit www.charliesday.co.nr
Are you holding a fundraising event in memory of someone special? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
