As the dust settles on the start of the new year, we thought it time to look back over the last 12 months and look forward to our exciting plans for the next.
2018
We are incredibly grateful for everyone’s support in 2018. You were as generous as ever with fundraising and donations but also with your time, creativity and skills in a way that we hadn’t asked of you before…
Our main focus this year has been the thing I think I am, without a doubt, most proud of (apart from my wonderful 3 children of course.) Working at the maternity unit where Jasper was born and where sadly some families continue to experience the loss of a baby, I have long wanted to find a way to make a connection with these families and also commemorate our boy’s life. This summer “The Rainbow Tree” was brought to life. SPW Ironworks crafted a beautiful steel tree sculpture that the hospital agreed could be installed in The Quiet Garden at Warwick Hospital. The leaves of the tree appear slowly over time, each leaf representing a baby’s life. The leaves are made by Topglass and are handblown glass available in every colour of the rainbow. Families choose a leaf and have the option to have a message and their child’s name engraved on it.
We soon realised that something so special and beautiful needed the best surroundings, so we decided to help the current gardening volunteers to spruce up the garden as much as we could. We chose Jasper’s 4th birthday to tackle our own version of ground force! So many friends and families helped, it was incredible. We had an abundance of discounts and donations of plants, materials etc and a huge team of beautiful people landscaping, installing, planting, painting, sanding and feeding and watering the garden and the workers! What was achieved in just one day was phenomenal and a perfect way to mark his birthday. Jasper was so proud and of course in true Jasper style, found the perfect way to say thank you.
5 weeks later we launched The Rainbow Tree at an emotional yet beautifully celebratory event. The first of the leaves were hung on the tree in the presence of colleagues, family and friends and the families of the babies whose leaves we were hanging. Stories were shared, baby’s names spoken, tears shed, reasons to smile found all around and there is was – the connection was made, Jasper perfectly commemorated.
Since then a couple of leaves have sadly been added. I wish that the tree has seen it’s last leaf hung but if that can’t be possible then I hope it can continue to provide comfort to families suffering baby loss for a long time to come. All of this was funded by money raised by Jasper’s Rainbow for the maternity unit so thank you.
Earlier in the year, Unique Little Ones went into serious production of personalised rainbow theatre hats for Warwick Maternity Unit. As with all Unique Little Ones products from the rainbow range, a proportion of profit was donated to Jasper’s Rainbow.
In April Su Hawkesford and Sarah Mitton organised the second successful clothes swish raising money for Jasper’s Rainbow. They hope to put on another in the future as it was so well received.
Jumping forward to December, The Rainbow Christmas Tree on labour ward, Warwick Hospital has seen another successful year. Over £100 has been raised for festive messages hung on its branches by the staff of the hospital.
There has also been lots of gestures for which we owe our deepest gratitude – Rachel Yeoman’s devising a Christmas Quiz for staff with a small charge to enter for Jasper’s Rainbow, sales of rainbow wreaths, donations to mark Jasper’s birthday or given at Christmas instead of sending cards or just because.
Not a bad year then?! But we are not ones to sit pretty, we are living an extra life in addition to ours you see…
2019
So to 2019…just in case you missed it, 4 years on from our first big sporting event “Ride the Rainbow” Warwick Hospital to Salcombe, we have just launched our big sporting event for this year #triplerainbowRSR….this video will give you a taster:
More details will follow but as with all our events there will be something for everyone (young or old, fit or not) to get involved with. As part of our training we have signed up to GO TRI’s very timely event “#TRIJanuary”, which, similar to our own event, allows you set your own challenge within the framework of a triathlon.
Tessy and I are #teamyoumebigc and will be running, swimming and biking a combined distance of 15KM.
Jon is #teamsteadman and will be running , swimming and biking a combined distance of 50km – he’s also said he’ll try and do the full 50km triathlon in one go….watch this space.
Myles is flitting between the 2 from the comfort of his pushchair, often asleep. Living the dream!
Why not shake off those January blues and sign up too? It will also help get you in the mood and get you event ready for the Triple Rainbow when we call on you! You know you want to!
We are also incredibly excited to announce that printing is currently underway for “Jasper’s Rainbow Story” a lovingly written children’s book by Granny (Monica Cox), beautifully illustrated by Chantal Bourgonje. It will be available to buy in the very near future and we will be sure to share with you how you can get your hands on a copy. A percentage of book sales will be going to Jasper’s Rainbow. I just can’t wait to see it.
So I think that will keep us out of trouble for now! Really glad to have you all along for the ride!
Jaspers Rainbow 