For Lauren: Family raises £36k in memory of baby girl
TRAGIC LOSS: Lauren Rose Waudby
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
The parents of a baby girl who died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) marked her 21st birthday by smashing their charity fundraising target.
Lauren Rose Waudby was only 18-weeks-old when she was found dead in her cot on September 6, 2003.
Her parents Emma and Pete, along with their daughter Holly, 26, son Jacob, 17, wider family and friends, have since raised more than £22,000 for The Lullaby Trust in memory of Lauren, marking her birthday each year to help others facing similar tragic circumstances.
The charity raises awareness of SIDS, which is also known as cot death, providing expert advice on safer sleep for babies and offering emotional support for bereaved families.
Emma and Pete set themselves the challenge of raising a further £21,000 for the charity with a series of events, culminating in a sell-out black tie ball at the DoubleTree Hilton on Lauren’s 21st birthday, April 27.
It was announced at the event the current total raised stands at £36,480.
In an emotional address to the 370 people in attendance, Emma, 46, from Anlaby, spoke of the family’s devastating loss and determination to raise awareness and funds for The Lullaby Trust.
FUNDRAISER: Emma Waudby raising a glass to her daughter Lauren. Picture by Kevin Greene
She said: “Panic, disbelief, utter shock, heart-wrenching – these are the only words I have to describe how Pete and I felt when we realised Lauren had gone.
“It’s all a bit of a blur and I remember going into autopilot. Everything happened in slow motion before our eyes.
“It was numbing. We were trapped in a nightmare. It was like we were looking down on someone else’s life.
“But the ultimate heart-breaking reality was – our baby girl was gone. On September 6, 2003, our world stopped in an instant.
“We experienced every emotion you can imagine. What could we have done? Why has it happened? Why Lauren? Why our baby girl? All of these unanswered questions.”
Emma went on to praise the work of The Lullaby Trust. However, she also said the latest statistics show SIDS is going up.
She added: “When we think about Lauren and how she’d be at 21-years-old, it’s hard.
PROUD: Emma and Pete Waudby with daughter Holly and son Jacob
“I will always see her as a baby. Would she have dark hair, blonde hair, would she be quiet and reserved like Holly, or a bit of a wild child like we think Jacob might turn out to be?!
“We will never know the path she’d have taken, how well she’d have done at school, what career she would have pursued.
“When I reflect back on the journey we’ve been on, one of the biggest things that stands out to me is I hardly have any pictures with Lauren. I was the person behind the camera.
“I took all the pictures. In the 18 weeks she was with us, I have only one photo of me and Lauren together.
“If you take one thing away from tonight, don’t always be the person behind the camera. Capture the memories, because you never know when it will be snatched away from you. Make the most of every moment, always.”
Revealing the total amount raised, Emma said: “We’re overwhelmed and in disbelief. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for all your support.
“It means the world to us.”
Anyone who would like to donate to the fundraising total can visit justgiving.com/team/laurenrose21
