Story

Around the UK, Sands has a nationwide network of around 100 local support groups, of which Gwynedd Sands is one. These are all organised and run on a voluntary basis by bereaved parents, for bereaved parents, their families and friends.

Gwynedd Sands are a group of local people based at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, who have all gone through the experience of losing a baby, either prematurely, through stillbirth or after birth. They are there to offer support, comfort and reassurance to anyone who has experienced the same, and wishes to talk about it but does not know who to. Losing a baby is both tragic and traumatic. You do not know why it happened to you and all sorts of questions go through your mind.

Gwynedd Sands relies entirely on volunteers, which we are currently short of. Without Gwynedd Sands there would be no Memorial Service and vital fundraising would be lost. If you feel that you can contribute in any way towards the running of the group please get in touch. We need you. Thank you.

Gwynedd SANDS relies entirely on volunteers, which we are currently short of. Without Gwynedd SANDS there would be no Memorial Service and vital fundraising would be lost. If you feel that you can contribute in any way towards the running of the group please come along to our meetings, we meet up on the last Wednesday of every month at the reception area, Ysbyty Gwynedd where we then go on to a private room for our meeting. We need you. Thank you.

Gwynedd SANDS provides:

· Support group meetings for parents and families

· Memorial services

· Befriending services

· Liaison with local hospitals and health professionals

· Fundraising for local and national facilities and services

For more information please visit our website at www.gwyneddsands.co.uk or the National SANDS main website at www.uk-sands.org

Sands has a nationwide network of local support groups run by bereaved parents to support anyone affected by the loss of a baby. Our local group Gwynedd SANDS is part of this network and 100% of your donations will be used to support their work. It is also the most efficient way to donate: Sands will receive your money electronically and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 25% in Gift Aid will be added to your donation at no cost to you. The Gift Aid is used to support Sands work across the UK

About the Charity I am raising money for: Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is an organisation that offers support when a baby dies during pregnancy or after birth.

Sands, was founded in 1978 by a small group of bereaved parents devastated by the death of their babies and in particular by what they felt was a complete lack of acknowledgement and understanding of the significance and impact of their loss.

Over the past 25 years the charity has supported many thousands of families whose babies have died, offering emotional support, comfort and practical help. Sands has worked tirelessly with health professionals to revolutionise the care bereaved families receive in hospital. Sands has fundamentally changed the way in which bereaved parents and their babies are cared for

Why Sands is so relevant: Incredibly in the UK today, in spite of medical advances, many parents, their families and friends continue to have their lives quite literally turned upside down by the death of their baby. 17 babies a day are either stillborn or die within the first twenty eight days of life, over 6,500 babies dying every year. Rates of stillbirth have remained relatively unchanged for 20 years and in fact are increasing.

Sands core aims are to:

support anyone affected by the death of a baby;

work with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services provided to bereaved parents and their families;

and promote changes in antenatal practice and to fund research that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives and the number of families devastated by this tragedy.

With your support we can really make a difference.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Sands gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

So please sponsor me now and thank you for your support!”