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Sheerness mum raises £10,748 for Rochester based Abigail's Footsteps charity

An ex-nursery nurse has donated four specialist 'cold-cots' to a charity who supported her following the loss of her baby.

Molly Hope, from Sheerness, has raised over £10,000 for Rochester-based bereavement support charity, Abigail's Footsteps.

(From left) Mike Hope, Jenson Hope and Molly Hope. Picture: Molly Hope
(From left) Mike Hope, Jenson Hope and Molly Hope. Picture: Molly Hope

The charity, which launched in 2010, provide support and counselling to bereft parents following the loss of a newborn.

As part of its mission, Abigail's created the 'Abi cot', a specially designed cooling cot that allows parents to spend more time with their deceased baby, helping them through the grieving process.

In November 2017, Molly, and her partner Mike Hope, were faced with every parents worst nightmare after their son Blake suddenly died 32 minutes after he was born.

Molly, who used to work for Happy Days Nursery in Iwade, said: "The charity allowed us time with our baby because we got to use a cold cot.

"This meant family and friends could come and say hello and goodbye, we didn't have to leave him until we were ready.

Molly was inspired to help the charity following the support she received after her son Blake died. Picture: Molly Hope
Molly was inspired to help the charity following the support she received after her son Blake died. Picture: Molly Hope

"This helped our grieving process massively, as everything was on our terms, but there are hospitals that do not have a cold cot, meaning parents don't get any time to spend with their angels, which is unimaginable."

Molly, who lives in Berridge Road, was inspired to raise money for the cots by the thought that some parents who faced a similar scenario didn't have the time to grieve over the loss of their child.

"When Abigail's said it needed the cold cots, I had to step up and do it with our gorgeous boy in mind and remember what we had that many haven't," added the 24-year-old.

In just 10 days of fundraising through raffles and donations, Molly managed to raise a staggering £9,346 for the charity.

The money has enabled the charity to purchase four Abi cots.

Mike Hope and Jenson Hope. Picture: Molly Hope
Mike Hope and Jenson Hope. Picture: Molly Hope

The first cot was sent to the QEQM Hospital in Margate, the second is set for the North Wales Hospital, the third to the Russell Hall Hospital in Dudley and the fourth to Gloucestershire Hospital.

In November 2019, Molly gave birth to Jenson Hope, who she described as her "rainbow baby."

She said: "My plan is to not stop raising money until the last two cots that the charity need have been allocated to the two hospitals that are desperate for them.

"I will always raise awareness as so many didn't even know what a cold cot was until I started fundraising, the support, love and messages I have received over the past 10 days has been incredible."

To make a donation, visit Molly's JustGiving page.

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