Anne and Helen raise funds ‘for Darcey and Katie – ten years on!’

Anne Livesey and Helen Howard started working for the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust as newly qualified nurses on the same day 20 years ago. After losing contact with eachother, a midwife put them back in touch when they both experienced the loss of their daughters, Darcey and Katie, within a week of eachother – both were stillborn.

In the year that marks what would have been the girls’ tenth birthday, Anne, Helen, their family and friends, have launched a fundraising campaign for the hospital where Darcey and Katie were born.

Anne and Helen hosted an event on Saturday 13 July, at Clitheroe Rugby Club. They decorated the venue with lights, candles and stars and approximately 140 friends and family attended, to enjoy a prosecco cocktail bar, music, and a fantastic raffle with loads of prizes donated by local businesses.

Anne and Helen were also given the signed Rovers shirt and the GHD straighteners back from the raffle winners to auction off, which raised even more money. Guests also played heads and tails and stand-up reverse bingo with cash prizes, and everyone got involved in the fun.

Guests were served big sausage and bacon butties by Mel from Betty Mae’s in Clitheroe, which went down a treat, and there was lots of dancing! Anne’s husband Craig, Helen’s husband David and their children were instrumental in organising the smooth running of the event.

“Clitheroe Rugby club were brilliant, so supportive and accommodating in many ways that kept our overheads down and increased profit for the fundraising!” said Anne.

“Mick, the DJ, gave us a massive discount and was great, and really got everyone involved - from the kids and teenagers to the grandparents! “

Anne and Helen were supported by:

Blackburn Rovers FC, Tesco Clitheroe, Vanilla Hairdresser, Peter Jackson's Jeweller, The Beach Hut, Burnley FC, The Garden Kitchen, The Villa, Dawson's Department Store, The Park, The Paint Pot, Leaping Lizards, Colbourne House Café and Forbes Solicitors, as well as many of their family and friends.

Anne also completed the Great Manchester Run with friends and family in May, and Anne and Helen plan to present the final total raised in their ‘Doing it for Darcey and Katie’ campaign to ELHT&Me in the next few weeks. There’s still time to donate! Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/anne-livesey4 to make a contribution.