A COURAGEOUS mother from Prestwick has exceeded all her expectations and raised almost £4,000 in under one week for the stillbirth and neonatal charity Sands.

Aimi Anderson, whose daughter, Lottie Anderson was stillborn, said: “We lost our wee girl on March 20.

“When our daughter was born we received a memory box from Sands containing a candle and wee Forget Me Not flowers for our other daughter to plant.

“I’ve spoken to the helpline a couple of times just for someone to speak to. They’ve been very helpful.

“We jut felt doing the fundraiser was a positive focus. We just wanted to achieve something so positive from the ultimate tragedy and I’m just so proud we’ve been able to do this in memory of Lottie.”

Aimi, an auxiliary nurse at Crosshouse hospital, started the Facebook fundraiser on Friday, March 27, just one week after the loss of her child. She thought collecting donations for the charity at the funeral of her daughter on Monday, March 30, was not a good idea, owing to fears of the spread of coronavirus through the handling of cash.

That decision led to her raising more money than she ever imagined. By reaching people through Facebook she has received donations from more folk than would have attended the funeral. With her initial target being only £100 she has now raised £3829.

Aimi said: “It makes you feel people do care and that you feel loved, we’re just overwhelmed with the response. We’re so thankful for everyone that’s donated and everyone who’s going through the same take comfort in your family and friends. Everyone’s different, just know that there are people there if you need to talk.

“I’ve been lucky to have my husband and Belle, my other daughter. She’s just keeping us going. She doesn’t really know what’s going on, she’s just great, she keeps us smiling.

“We’ll make sure she knows all about her sister when she’s old enough.

"Every year at her birthday we will do something to keep her memory alive.”

By sharing her story Aimi hopes that more people will feel supported, saying it can be a very lonely time when going through such tragic grief. By sharing her story she’s voicing her support for anybody else suffering from the loss of a child.

She added: “We’re just so grateful that we’ve managed to raise all this money in Lotties memory. It’s amazing to achieve something so positive with everyone’s kindness as the result of the worst heartbreak imaginable. It gives us great comfort knowing that our charity fundraising will help other families like ourselves.”

She also wished to thank the maternity staff and bereavement team at Crosshouse, who she said were: “Absolutely amazing. They were angels, they don’t know how much of a difference they made.”

Aimi’s fundraiser can be found at www.facebook.com/donate/963112014086974/3058870214157355/

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