Charlies Angel is a family run, Middleton-based charity born out of family tragedy.
Sam Key’s daughter Carrie gave birth in 2012 to baby Charlie, but he had a rare and untreatable condition called Potters Syndrome. Unfortanately she died just days later. What shocked the Key family was the lack of support that Carrie was offered.
Giving birth to a healthy baby is enough of an emotional rollercoaster, but then losing that child is devastating. Having been discharged from hospital, Carrie was referred for counselling by her GP. Like anyone else seeking help she was assessed within six weeks and then put on an eighteen month waiting list.
Understanding that parents facing these circumstances need immediate help, the Key’s set up the Charlies Angel charity. They now field calls and emails from across the UK and across the globe. Remembering how isolated they felt, they answer every request for help, signposting to local services where they can, offering an empathetic ear to everyone.
Their long term aim is to see a centre built in Leeds where bereaved parents can call in at any time day or night. In the short term their next challenge is to raise £1,500 to fund a ‘Cuddle Cot’. When you only have hours to share with your baby, every minute is precious. A baby with Potter’s Syndrome will overheat in her mother’s arms, but the cuddle cot will keep baby cool and allow the parents to hold their child.
Charlies Angel are holding a family fun day to raise funds for the cuddle cot on Saturday 1 August at the New Middleton club. The day promises to be great fun with great raffle prizes as well as raising valuable funds for a great cause. Please support it if you can.
For more information please visit: www.charlies-angel-centre.org.uk.
