A Coupar Angus couple have raised more than £1500 for a stillbirth and neonatal death charity in memory of their baby daughter Daisy.
Kelly Wood (36) and Raymond Kennedy (40) lost their little girl in March, when she was just nine days old.
Devastated by her death, they were at first unsure where to turn for emotional support but soon discovered SANDS.
The charity provided a special memory box in which to keep precious mementos of Daisy’s short life and they also attend group counselling sessions which Raymond describes as a “Godsend.”
Keen to give something back, the couple took part in a 17km fund-raising walk in Dundee last month.
Starting at Camperdown Park, each kilometre represented one of the 17 babies that are stillborn or die shortly after birth every day in the UK.
They had hoped to raise around £400 but have more than tripled that, with the total sitting at £1552.
Raymond, who works as a gardener for Balhousie Care Group, thanked family and friends for their “overwhelming generosity.”
He said the event, attended by more than 100 people, had been tinged with sadness but evoked a strong sense of togetherness.
“Many of the people taking part had been through a similar tragedy to ourselves, they understood how we felt and why we wanted to give something back,” he said.
“It was quite a tough walk and we both had big blisters by the end but the knowledge we could help provide comfort for other couples kept us going.
“SANDS was a real lifeline for us. When we lost Daisy we felt quite alone and I would call Kelly every hour to check she was okay.
“I thought what I was doing was unusual but when we attended group sessions I realised other men in my situation did the same.
“The memory box is not something we would have thought of ourselves but it has been a huge comfort.
“We know we can look at it whenever we need to and will be able to do that for years to come.”
Kelly, who works at Balhousie The Grange care home in Balbeggie, continued, “We are both overwhelmed by the generosity and support we have received through a very difficult time for us.
“We had been hoping for a few hundred but people kept giving and giving it brings a tear to my eye.
“The walk allowed us to have our own personal memorial for Daisy and we released a balloon in her name but it will also help SANDS continue its amazing work.
SANDS will use the proceeds to fund its work, including the running of the Sunshine Room at Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, which is an area where bereaved parents and family can spend time and cherished moments with their baby.