2020 was a year full of disappointments, to put it lightly, with job furloughs, cancelled holidays and postponed weddings to name but a few. However, it was also a year that sparked hope with neighbours looking out for one another, random acts of kindness being performed and rainbows popping up in windows.

During lockdown#1 myself alongside trustees, battled to gather resources and items to create rainbow boxes for babies born after a loss. We launched the boxes in April, for East Lancashire families who have their rainbow baby after being referred through the Rainbow Clinic. These have been hugely successful and in just 8 months we've supplied the clinic with 75 boxes costing us around £3750! As we move into 2021 we want to boost our fundraising efforts in order to make more rainbow boxes and other rainbow keepsakes to provide for families who have their rainbow baby regardless of their referral pathway. The boxes cost us between £45-£50 to create with each item carefully selected and wrapped by hand.

In 2021 we want to Reach for Rainbows and we've created a fundraising campaign to help us do just that. I myself haven't taken on any challenges as such, in a few years, so I am taking on DRY January and sticking to it!!! I am paying forward by disappointment and will donate the money I am saving on my weekly bottle of wine (and the rest!) to the fund.  In February I intend to do Fitness February, where I am going to complete a long distance on my cross trainer over the course of the month.  I then aim to continue as long as I can throughout the year with a monthly challenge or event to continue to raise money.

Why not share your disappointment of 2020 in the comments and then spread some hope and rainbows by donating to the campaign? As little as £2 allows a family family to capture those precious rainbow footprints and £45 will pay for a whole box for a family.  Just £2 will allow a family to capture those precious rainbow footprints and £45 will pay for a whole box for a family.