James Cook
James Cook's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity
Story
UPDATE: I DID IT!!! I had a wobbly start with water in my goggles during the first length which meant I had to get out and start again but, instead of swimming 400m, I did 800m and got my distance badge to prove it! I had originally hoped to raise £400 - £1 for every metre I swam - so your generosity has been brilliant. Thank you so much for sponsoring me. If you would like to see the combined fundraising total towards the £40k target please visit www.justgiving.com/surreysands-royal-surrey. Further donations would still be very welcome.
I was 3 and a half when my sister, Emily, was stillborn. It was just before Christmas 2002. I remember Grandma and Grandpa taking me into the hospital to see Mummy and Daddy but they were very sad. They tried to explain that her body wasn’t working but I couldn’t really understand why she didn’t move or cry. I was able to hold her and give her a kiss but apart from that memory, and a few photos, that is all I have to remember my sister by.
Mummy and Daddy bought me two tiny teddy bears – one of which went into Emily’s coffin and was buried with her, the other I have by my bed and I called Emily’s ted. Every night I used to kiss her ted and say “night night baby Emily”. I miss my sister and still cuddle the little ted sometimes. The lead up to Christmas is a difficult time of the year and I think it always will be.
We talk about Emily lots and try to include her in things we do. When I was at the school opposite the cemetery where she is buried I used to visit her grave and tell her what I had done at school that day. On her birthday, we get a pink helium balloon and send it up to her. I now help my little brother, Matthew, to write his message on the tag but it is something we both like to do.
Earlier this year, Mummy volunteered to help Royal Surrey create a new bereavement suite at the hospital. Fascinated by her Justgiving page, and proud of what she was trying to achieve, I asked if I could do something to help raise money for the project. We talked about what I could do and I decided that I would try to swim 400m on 6th December, the day before what would have been her 6th birthday.
If you would like to sponsor me, I would be very grateful.
Thank you.
James
TO DONATE TO MY PAGE, PLEASE HIT THE DONATE BUTTON ABOVE.
To see MUMMY’s page and read a bit more about the project please go to www.justgiving.com/surreysands-forgetmenot
For more information on the charity please visit www.surrey-sands.org.uk or www.why17.org
Note 1 - Royal Surrey is also raising money towards this project. Any monies raised through the Justgiving page in excess of the amount required for the project will be donated to Surrey Sands to support other parents and hospitals within Surrey.
Note 2 - Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to donate: 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. All monies donated will go to Surrey Sands in aid of the ‘Forget-Me-Not Suite’. The Gift Aid element will be retained by National Sands to support their work which includes research into the causes of stillbirth.