A MUM from Dalton whose baby girl died just a day after her birth is set to hold a special event to raise money for a vital piece of maternity equipment.

Lesley Bennett is getting ready to welcome Santa Claus to her shop; a Petal or Two, in Duke Street, Barrow, on Saturday.

The mum of three, who lost baby Elleanor following her birth at Furness General Hospital in 2004, hopes to raise enough money from the event to buy a cold cot for the maternity unit.

A cold cot is a specialised piece of equipment that is used when a baby dies or is stillborn. 

It helps to keep the baby at a certain temperature to allow parents to have time with their loved one and build precious memories that they can cherish forever.

Mrs Bennett will be joined on the day by her colleague Margaret Hutchinson, who lost her baby daughter Eloise in 2010.

Mrs Bennett said: “Myself and Margaret decided we want to raise some money to purchase a portable cold cot to be used across the whole trust, in memory of our very special angels - Elleanor and Eloise - as this was not available to us when we lost them in 2004 and 2010.

”A portable cold cot will allow families to take their baby home for a longer period of time, helping them to come to terms with the devastation and loss.

“It will also allow them to spend time with their baby in familiar surroundings with extended family and close friends, which also helps with the grieving process.“

Children who attend the meet Santa event, between noon and 6pm, will be able to tell him what they are hoping to receive on December 25 in exchange for a small donation.

They will each get a bag of reindeer dust and a bag of sweets to take home.

Sascha Wells, deputy director of midwifery at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust - the body that runs FGH, said: “We are really grateful that Lesley and her team at A Petal or Two have chosen to raise money for a piece of equipment we can use across the Furness area. 

”We know how passionate people are about maternity services in their area, and it is really humbling to know that our communities are using their own time and resources to raise money for equipment that we can use to help local women and families at the most difficult of times.”