A COUPLE whose first baby was stillborn are raising funds for the hospital which supported them.

Annika and James Dowson are taking part in a four-day sponsored walk from Helmsley, where they live, to Scalby Mills, near Scarborough.

They set off yesterday (Tuesday) and were joined by Annika’s parents, Andrea and Richard Walker, and family friends in support of Scarborough Hospital’s maternity unit.

Annika said they had chosen the Tabular Hills Walk as it took them from Helmsley to Scarborough where Gypsy had been born on October 30, 2008.

“I was two days away from my due date when I stopped feeling any movement from my baby and when we went to the hospital they were unable to find a heartbeat,” she said.

“They found there had been problems with the placenta and Gypsy has been starved of oxygen – we were absolutely devastated as we had been told we would be unable to have children and she had taken a long time to conceive.”

Annika said staff at the maternity unit had been extremely supportive after Gypsy’s death.

“They were absolutely amazing with us and bathed Gypsy and let us spend time with her,” she said.

“One of the midwives also came along to her funeral as when these things happen they are affected as well.”

The couple now have a 20-month-old son, Nathanial, and Annika said medical staff kept a close check on her during the pregnancy.

“I was extremely nervous and I was at the hospital nearly after 30 weeks. The hospital was really good, doing extra tests and checking everything was alright and I was induced so I didn’t go past 38 weeks.”

Annika said she had suffered severe post-natal depression following Nathanial’s birth.

“It was a difficult time but I came through it and he is just a little joy to us,” she said.

“Scarborough Maternity were such a huge support to us during this tragic and heart-breaking time, that we decided we wanted to do something in memory of Gypsy and also to help other bereaved parents like ourselves.

We would like to raise funds to help other parents who will go through a similar experience to us.”

Annika added: “Saying hello and goodbye to their precious angels will take all their strength, so we feel if we can help the hospital with funds, in turn it could help grieving families to make special memories. These memories are all us parents will ever have with our child and that is why it is so important for us to make this possible.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Annika and James and should visit www.gofundme.com/tx9tg