Adrenaline-filled colleagues at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn are taking part in a skydive to raise funds for a Maternity Bereavement Suite at the Trust.
After being re-arranged three times due to COVID-19 restrictions, 35 QEH colleagues are finally taking the leap on Wednesday 21 April, in Chatteris, March, with the goal of raising £20,000 towards the fund.
The QEH Maternity Bereavement Suite, which is planned to open in Autumn 2021, will provide a dedicated and welcoming place for families from the local community who sadly lose their babies either during, or shortly after birth, and give them the opportunity to create precious memories.
Named by the public as The Butterfly Suite, the space will be a self-contained area away from the labour ward, which includes a living area, kitchenette, bedroom, nursery and en-suite.
The skydiving team consists of colleagues of all professions across the Trust, including Ann Deane, Hospital Information Services Manager. Ann said: “I am lucky enough that none of my family or friends have experienced baby loss, but I can’t imagine for one minute how that would feel.”
“I am doing this jump to provide a comforting environment for all those families who are experience grief and heartache. We can collectively make this very sad experience a little bit more bearable with a purpose-built Maternity Bereavement Suite.”
Another member of the skydiving team is Emma Brown, Midwife at the Trust. Emma said: “As a midwife, I am always inspired by the courage and incredible strength of families who have had a pregnancy loss. I really want to help provide a dedicated bereavement suite to give families a quiet and safe space in these incredibly difficult times.”
“The new bereavement suite will provide families not only with a space to grieve, but a space to make memories with their baby however they choose.”
Keep an eye on @TeamQEH social media for pictures and videos of the skydiving team throughout the day.
If you would like to donate, you can do so via the JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/qeh-skydivers.
You can also give to the Maternity Bereavement Suite appeal by sending cheques payable to ‘Maternity Bereavement Suite Appeal’ to Finance Department, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gayton Road, King’s Lynn PE30 4ET.
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To download the press pack, click here.
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