Staff and service users at a specialist mental health hospital in Nottinghamshire have handed over a cheque for more than £2,000 to a vital baby loss charity, concluding a year of dedicated fundraising and hands-on support.
A Year of Charitable Commitment
Cygnet Maple House, a 16-bed mental health hospital for women based in East Bridgford, selected the charity 4Louis as its chosen cause at the start of 2025. The organisation supports families affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, and the death of a baby or child, providing crucial resources like memory boxes free of charge to hospitals and hospices.
Throughout the year, the team embarked on a series of creative fundraising initiatives. Their efforts began with an 11-mile sponsored walk and continued with events including a bake-off, a car wash, a big sleep-out, and car boot sales. This sustained momentum resulted in a final total of £2,068.24 raised for the charity's essential work.
Presenting the Cheque and Packing Memories
To mark the end of their successful campaign, staff and service users recently visited the 4Louis headquarters to present the cheque. Their visit was about more than just handing over funds; they also volunteered their time to help the charity's mission directly.
"Whilst at the headquarters, our service users and staff kept up their charitable efforts," said Andrew Hemmington-Page, Head of Care at Cygnet Maple House. "They packed memory boxes with keepsakes and mementos to help families affected by baby loss create lasting memories of their loved ones."
A Collaborative Effort with Lasting Impact
Andrew Hemmington-Page expressed immense pride in the achievement. "Each and every one of us has an immense feeling of achievement after our year of fundraising," he stated. "It was great to give the cheque to 4Louis, they are such an amazing charity."
He explained that the partnership was chosen specifically to aid the support provided to grieving families and to raise awareness of the charity's efforts. Beyond the financial contribution, the initiative provided significant benefits for the hospital community itself.
"Having a chosen charity for 2025 has given our service users many great opportunities throughout the year to work collaboratively, plan events and engage with others in the local community," Andrew added. "We are already planning a new charitable partnership next year."
The final act of presenting the cheque and assisting at the charity's base underscored the profound community spirit and commitment of everyone at Cygnet Maple House, turning fundraising into a deeply personal and supportive endeavour.
