By Sarah Danquah
A mother whose child died two days after being born is organising a Christmas fundraiser for the second year in a row to support other families who suffer baby loss.
Holly Stottor’s son Harrison was a premature baby and was born on 12th January 2019. Two days later he died of oxygen deficiency at Leicester Royal Infirmary just weighing 4lb 14oz.
In December 2020, the 28-year-old decided to set up a charity called Harrison’s Hope, based in Thurmaston, to support Leicester Hospital’s Maternity and Neonatal Unit.
“The nurses took pictures of these moments I spent with Harrison, so that I could keep them safely in a box and show him off to the world when I was ready,” Holly said in an Interview with EverythingCommunity.org.
“I’m thankful for the nurses and doctors that gave me the chance to be a first time mum…these memories will always stay alive with me.”
She also committed herself to supporting bereaved families who have suffered the loss of a baby and provides services in her local community and surroundings.
This winter, Harrison’s Hope is to host a Christmas Charity Fun Day on Saturday, December 11, from 11am to 5pm at Thurmaston Working Men’s Club, 805 Melton Road, Leicester LE4 8EE.
The charity will help to raise money for Harrison’s Hope to create comfort boxes for bereaved families and Leicester’s hospital Neonatal unit quiet room.
Food and drinks will be served during the day while Santa and Elsa give away gifts to the children. There will be an opportunity to win prizes on a raffle stall.
For a second year running, Holly is also setting up a Christmas tree of angels in her front garden in Church Hill Road, Thurmaston. The tree will be part of a range of Christmas fundraising projects this year and is decorated with pink and blue baubles dedicated to babies who were stillborn or died young.
“It was my partner Ashley’s idea. We’ve got the glass baubles and the ones for girls will be filled with pink snow and the ones for boys with blue snow and each will have the baby’s name on it,” she told the Leicester Mercury last year.
Harrison’s Hope is still looking for donations towards its Christmas tree of angles and raffle stall. Donations can be made by visiting the Harrison’s Hope facebook page.
Further information about their ongoing Christmas fundraising projects can also be found on the page.
