Changing lives for babies and children
The charity was founded by Sarah Brown in 2002 to help inspiring professionals continue their world-changing work in saving and transforming children's lives. Researchers at the groundbreaking Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory are working to solve some of the most devastating pregnancy problems and find better ways to look after premature babies. Our talented and dedicated team of doctors, scientists and research midwives are advancing pioneering research projects. Their aim is to make real progress towards resolving some of the life threatening complications that can arise during pregnancy for both mums and babies. The work in the laboratory furthers understanding of what causes early labour, how we can develop treatments to prevent it, and how we can better help treasured tiny newborns in those first crucial hours and days after birth. We work with some of the best charity leaders in the UK: heroes engaging in some of the most innovative work to help children and young adults otherwise at risk. We can support and enhance their expertise with our advice and through our Small Grants programme. From mentoring programmes to sports provision, children's cancer care to school-based projects, we can make a little from you go a very long way for children. Why choose PiggyBankKids I was 9 months pregnant and we were looking forward in a matter of days to meeting our first baby. I had enjoyed a normal pregnancy but a scan at 38 weeks revealed no heartbeat. Horror, fear and disbelief filled our hearts and minds. We naively thought that this sort of thing does not happen in the 21st century. Yet every year in the UK, nearly 4000 babies are stillborn. (1 in 200 babies). In 2007, 87,000 babies needed specialist care and over 3000 died shortly after birth or within the first month of life. Scientific research can still not give reasons for around 50% of all stillbirths. The journey to birth remains the most dangerous and unpredictable journey that humankind will ever make. For me personally, a 56 hour labour and further complications meant I had to have an emergency section. I was in the maternity unit for 13 days, surrounded by healthy crying babies, flowers and excited new parents. In those first awful weeks after the death and birth of our baby son Gregor, we organised a funeral rather than a christening. We organised for the baby shop to collect the nursery items and return the baby car seat. I was on maternity leave yet I had no-one to look after. Offers on nappies and toys kept coming through the mail as the world it seemed knew that there should be a healthy noisy baby amongst our family. Yet there was silence in our house- the music was switched off, the piano lid was shut and we were numbed in a world of sadness about what might have been. During this time we busied ourselves with anything- meaningless holidays, work projects and then we found a number of baby charities that interested us. We have supported several over the years, but the Jennifer Brown Research Fund was different. It is very focused and has already produced some significant scientific developments. Supporters are kept well informed and are regularly invited to Open Days. One cannot help but be moved by the dedication of the team and their outstanding scientific and clinical commitment. The charity has played an important part in our lives and has given us (and our family and friends) the opportunity to make a small difference - wherever possible we try and fundraise-small events and activities but it is the small things that add up to make a difference. We now have 2 gorgeous little girls aged 5 and 3 and every day we look at them and are so grateful to the doctors in Edinburgh that ensured their safe journey and arrival. There is now happy noisy chaos in our house. As a family we also feel that we have inherited all those extra years from our son so we try and make every day count. Yet scientific research takes years to progress. We remain confident that future research will help lesson the unbearable pain that many families suffer in the loss of a baby and in the meantime have great pleasure in commending this very special charity to you. Charity registration no 1062312 |
By taking on your Gold Challenge for PiggyBankKids you'll be joining us in those vital first steps to helping some of the most vulnerable babies and children in the UK. In return we will support you, with regular updates, top twitter tips, expert fundraising ideas and our supporter pack.
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PiggyBankKids website| Gold Challenge page on PiggyBankKids Website | Register Now |
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At PiggyBankKids we work hard to give children the best possible chance of living a healthy and happy life, here in the UK. We want to help as many children as we can: from the vulnerable babies whose lives could be saved with the right scientific breakthroughs, to those kids and young people who have the hardest start in life.
Link to Gold Challenge page on Oxfam site (if any)
