Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. The Archie Foundation exists to transform experiences and outcomes in healthcare and bereavement for local babies, children and families. You can learn more about the services they offer in this short video

The Archie Foundation supported us when Millie was born with accommodation for me, Andrew and Isla in the children’s hospital in Aberdeen so the three of us could be together and stay close to Millie. We had our own bedroom and access to a shared kitchen where we could cook, eat and wash our clothes. The kitchen was even stocked with some basics so we could always make tea and toast regardless of how chaotic the day was. We stayed there for 61 nights before Millie was transferred to Raigmore. The transfer happened so quickly there was no time to arrange accommodation in Inverness so the Archie Foundation arranged and paid for a Travelodge there until Raigmore could arrange patient accommodation for us. The Archie foundation gave Millie her first toys and books before she’d met any of our friends and family. They brought Lego, Barbies, fidget toys and craft supplies for Isla too. Their volunteers helped to arrange for Isla to attend a holiday club in Aberdeen and even offered to babysit so she could get a reprieve while we met with Millie’s doctors. They have volunteers and a counsellor who visits the unit to talk to parents twice a week and they even gave us a trolley pound for the lockers in the unit - they’d thought of everything. Our girls were so cared for and knowing we had somewhere to stay, some food and something for Isla to do took some pressure off the stressful days in the neonatal unit. The Archie foundation also gave Millie’s nurses a notebook they used to start a journal for her and it’s a precious record of all the tests, treatments and milestones from our time with Millie.

Archie’s have continued to support Isla since Millie died with books about sibling bereavement for children, hand knitted toys and support sessions to help her cope at school.

Having people around us with an insight into what we were going through was invaluable. Most babies arrived on the unit, stayed for a few days, then their families would take them home. We knew that wasn’t going to be the path for us and were so grateful to befriend two other families experiencing the same heartache of seeing other babies come and go, the fear of an invite to the quiet room, the confusion of conflicting opinions and the uncertainty for the future. The ITUB OGs have been through such a lot and Archies have supported us all in different ways.

Archie’s knew what we needed when we didn’t and having that support helped us survive the worst of times. We’ll never be able to repay what they’ve given us but we know first hand how vital this charity and their services are so we want to make a contribution to help them continue their crucial work. So we’re walking the Aberdeen kilt walk together just before our babies' first birthdays and anything you could donate would be very greatly received.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.