A BARNSLEY Hospital midwife who has supported hundreds of patients and their babies for almost two decades is set to embark on a huge fundraiser to help revamp a room in memory of her son.
Ellie Brown, 41, is a bereavement midwife at the Gawber Road site and is set to cycle 145 miles from Southport to Barnsley over a three-day period in memory of her son, Rupert, with her partner, Matt.
The pair will be raising money in a bid to help transform the hospital’s Rainbow Room into a larger, more modern and supportive environment.
The room is a space where parents say hello and goodbye to their baby and where precious memories are made in the most heartbreaking circumstances.
It is also where Ellie said goodbye to her son, Rupert, who died in September 2020.
Every day, incredible staff support families experiencing miscarriage from 20 weeks, stillbirth, and neonatal loss with kindness, dignity, and unwavering care.
But the environment in which this care takes place urgently needs improving.
Ellie and Matt will set off on their 45-mile journey on September 1, arriving at the hospital on Rupert’s birthday on September 4.
She said: “This space matters.
“It offers privacy, calm and comfort in moments of unimaginable loss.
“We are working to transform the Rainbow Room into a larger, more modern, and more supportive environment in line with national guidance.
“Plans include a small kitchenette, a comfortable living area, a separate private birthing space, and soundproofing - all designed to create a more peaceful, homely space for families who need it most.”
Ellie added: “Supporting families is not just my job - it is something I carry with me every single day.
“But I am also a bereaved parent, when my son Rupert died, I sat in that very room.
“I know first-hand how important that space is. In those moments, nothing can take the pain away, but the environment, the care, and the smallest details can make an unbearable situation feel just a little gentler, a little more human.
“No one should ever have to say goodbye to their baby.
“But if they do, they deserve the very best support and surroundings we can provide.”
To date, they have raised more than £1,600 - and Ellie says every pound counts.
She added: “We would be so grateful for your support - whether that’s a donation, sharing the fundraising page, or following our journey along the way.
“Every contribution, no matter how small, will help us create a space that truly supports families in their darkest moments.
“Thank you for helping us make a difference.”
https://www.justgiving.com/page/ellie-matt-rainbowroom-cycle-rupert?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL
