Football fundraiser after death of baby

Image source, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Image caption, Gracie was born 10 weeks early, weighing just 3lb 5oz
  • Author, Christian Fuller
  • Role, 成人快手 News, South East

The parents of a baby that died at three months old have organised a charity football match in Kent in her memory.

Gracie, who was born 10 weeks early, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering brain seizures.

After seven weeks in neonatal intensive care, her parents Mel and Alex Gray returned to their Tenterden home before Gracie died six weeks later.

The couple said funds raised at the match will be donated to the East Kent Hospitals Charity as a thank you for the care staff at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford provided to their daughter.

Ms Gray, who has had two further children since Gracie's death in 2019, said the baby was able to watch her older brother Louie playing football during her short life.

鈥淲e were so grateful for the care we received,鈥 she said.

鈥淩aising money in her memory is one way for us to say thank you.

鈥淎s the boys and Alex are all mad about football, we decided we would have a football match on or close to her birthday each year, because we believe birthdays need celebrating, including Gracie鈥檚.鈥

She added: 鈥淕racie is our only daughter and she鈥檚 still a very special part of our family.鈥

Teams will play in baby blue and baby pink kits at the match at Wittersham Sports Field, Tenterden, on 24 August.

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