The Lullaby Trust, formally known as Foundation for the Study into Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (FSIDS), are my charity of choice when I am fundraising.
They are the UK's safe sleep charity. Providing research, grief support and safer sleep guidelines, which can be found here:
They hold a personal significance in my life and today I am sharing that story with you:
1987: Matthew died suddenly in his sleep. Leaving behind a devastated Mummy, Daddy and Big Sister. The Lullaby Trust (known then as FSIDS) helped by providing a befriender.
1988: Kizzi was born and came home from the hospital with an apnoea alarm. She was our first ticking baby.
1994: Ed was born, another baby = another ticker! Ed's Ticker saved his life. He was sleeping in his pram and mum nipped into the other room. Alerted by his alarm she ran to his side and as she picked him up he took a deep breath!
1997: Lucey was born. Another ticking baby and also a first aid course for me, as I was now old enough to be a babysitter.
2013: Kizzi undertook her first Challenge. She took on the Trans Pennine 100km. She made it to 75km where she promptly puked on a medic and passed out! She raised vital funds for the Lullaby trust.
Also my daughter, Alma, was born. The Lullaby trust once again stepped in with their Coni+ scheme. Providing a Ticker and extra support services to ensure the concerns and fears did not get in the way of those exciting first few months. (https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/how-we-can-support-you/our-care-of-next-infant-scheme/)
2015: Kizzi undertook the Thames Path Challenge alone, raising yet more funds for The Lullaby Trust.
2016: With our sister in law expecting her first baby Kizzi and I took on the Isle of Wight challenge. 106km of brutal, beautiful terrain!
Our wonderful neice, Maisie, was born. I'll never forget the time that Mum's smoke Alarm went off and both me and my sister in law nearly got whiplash because it sounded just like Maisie's Ticker.
2017: Winter walk... A freezing, wet 20km on hard ground around London!
Kizzi and I did the Thames Path Challenge. 36 hours of fun, adventure, pain, blisters but we smashed it!
2018: Our most recent ticking baby, Henry, was born!
2019: Completed 58km of the Jurrasic coast Challenge. It took 22 hours and was awful. Then later in the year we took on the 100km Thames path and managed to knock 4 hours off our 2017 time!
So, there you have it. A family history, a freaking awesome charity and a lot of hard work to raise vital funds. If you have a few spare quid, consider the Lullaby Trust next time you are donating.
As always, thanks for popping by xx
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