A fantastic turnout of around 200 supporters came together on Saturday evening for our Charity's Maternity Bereavement Charity Ball, helping raise vital funds towards our dedicated Maternity Bereavement Suite at CRH.

Hosted by Matt Jameson at the Moorlands Inn in Ogden, the event combined celebration, remembrance and fundraising, with guests enjoying live entertainment, fundraising games, a silent auction, and music from local jazz band Sass & The Groove, all in support of our Maternity Bereavement Appeal.

The evening opened with a show-stopping performance from Studio 59 Dance School, and supporters took part in a range of fundraising activities, including a silent auction, heads and tails competition, balloon pop, an in-memory tree, and an 'unlock the box' challenge. 

Throughout the night guests heard about the vision for the specialist bereavement suite, that will provide families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death or pregnancy loss with a private, compassionate and dedicated environment during the most difficult moments of their lives.

One of the most poignant moments of the evening was the charity's 'Bubbles for Babies' tribute, when guests paused to remember babies who are no longer with us and reflected on the importance of the appeal and the support it will provide for future families.

CHFT Charity Fundraising Coordinator, Katie Stewart, led the organisation of the event. She said: "The 'Bubbles for Babies' moment was so moving. It was the only time of the night where the room fell completely silent as we all paused to reflect on the reason why we were all there.

"Our Maternity Bereavement Charity Ball was an incredible evening of celebration, remembrance, fundraising and togetherness. As Fundraising Coordinator, I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who helped make it happen.

"The generosity in the room was phenomenal, and every pound raised takes us one step closer to creating a dedicated Maternity Bereavement Suite at Calderdale Royal Hospital.

"There were some very special moments, plenty of laughter, a few tears, lots of dancing, and an amazing amount of support for families experiencing baby loss.

"A huge thank you to everyone who sponsored, donated, volunteered, entertained, organised, attended and supported the evening in any way."

Guests also heard from Chief Executive, Rob Aitchison and Director of Women's Services and Midwifery, Gemma Puckett, who spoke about the importance of compassionate bereavement care and how the new facility will make a lasting difference to local families.

The event was made possible thanks to the support of headline sponsor Equans, alongside a wide range of local businesses, organisations and individuals who donated prizes, experiences and their time to help make the evening a success. 

By the end of the night, guests had raised more than £10,100, taking the appeal total to £215,000 and bringing the charity another step closer to its £500,000 goal. 

The charity's fundraising efforts continue, with supporters invited to take part in the upcoming Lantern Trail to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week, helping to remember babies gone too soon while raising further funds for the appeal. 

You can watch a short highlight reel of the night on the CHFT Facebook page. 

To find out more about the Maternity Bereavement Appeal or to make a donation, visit the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity website.