SIAN?Coopey, the founder of a locally based charity, Rocky Lee’s Little Feet, is up for a national bereavement support award.

The Butterfly Awards will be held in Worcester, on October 10th, and Sian has been nominated for the Committed Babyloss Volunteer award. There are many inspirational fundraisers who work within the baby loss field. Sian is a parent who is doing something amazing to raise money in her baby’s memory.

Sian formed the charity, Rocky Lee’s Little Feet in 2013. Sian and her husband, Martin, were devastated when their beloved son, Rocky Lee, was stillborn in May that year.

Sian was still entitled to her maternity leave. This should have been time with her new son, but instead, Sian decided to try to do something about changing a situation which upset her; she realised that many families could not afford a headstone or memorial plaque for their stillborn babies.

Sian and Martin set up Rocky-Lee’s Little Feet in June 2013. The charity aims to provide funding for these headstones and memorial plaques to families of stillborn babies who can’t afford to provide their baby with their final mark on the world.

Sian told the Ross Gazette that since she formed the charity in 2013, it has been really good, Rocky Lee’s Little Feet has raised approximately £17,000 since it started, and the charity supports bereaved families all over the UK, not only those in Herefordshire.

The charity has funded seven headstones for families across the UK, which show that these babies existed, and are loved. These headstones cost in excess of £800, which these families would not have been able to afford otherwise.

However, Sian also said, as a charity, Rocky Lee’s Little Feet was never going to be “trendy.” Sian pointed out that stillbirth is a taboo subject, which not many people are comfortable dealing with, so it can be a challenge to raise awareness for a charity that many people are uncomfortable talking about.

The awards evening is designed to bring awareness to the topic of bereavement, which is often hidden away. The event is a black tie/cocktail dress event, held in beautiful surroundings, it ensures the strength and achievements of the nominees highlighted, are celebrated.

Voting for the Butterfly awards began on September 1st. To find out more about the awards, visit:?www.thebutterflyawards.com. For more information about Rocky Lee’s Little Feet, visit: www.rockyleeslittlefeet.co.uk. If you are interested in fundraising for the charity, visit the “Get Involved” section of their website.

Read thefull report in tis week’s Ross Gazette.