Paramount are supporting a different charity each month throughout 2016. February’s charity is Sands, a charity that aids stillbirth and neonatal death amongst new born babies.
Sands is the stillbirth and neonatal death charity operating throughout the UK. The charity was founded in 1978 by a group of bereaved parents devastated by the death of their babies, and by the total lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the significance and impact of their loss.
After decades of stagnation the UK’s stillbirth rate is starting to decline, but in 2013 one in every 370 babies born in the UK died in the first four weeks of life. That’s why Sands raise money in order to fund necessary research into the causes of stillbirth and neonatal death. This research helps them to identify higher risk pregnancies and enables them to improve interventions to manage these. Additionally they also work towards improving the aftercare of bereaved parents after the loss of a baby as well as improve the quality of care provided by midwives.
The reason I was keen to support Sands as our February charity campaign was because I’m so intrigued by the miracle of pregnancy. I feel very connected to babies and being a part of this miracle and helping women give birth would be somewhat of a dream for me, alongside being able to comfort those who experience a loss. One day I would love to be a midwife so I can be there entirely for individuals who give birth and those who lose their babies.
To raise money and awareness for Sands I decided to host a ‘wear orange day’ to represent the colour of Sands. It’s not the most typical colour as people generally don’t wear orange to work, and therefore it would stand out.
We’re also selling pins, wristbands and trolley coins throughout February to raise money for Sands, so please do pop in and donate if you’re able to!
