Mum celebrates son's legacy on his 10th birthday

A mum has marked the date of what would have been her son's 10th birthday by supporting other parents who've experienced baby loss.

Lottie King set up Leo's, a neonatal charity, six years ago to provide support for families who experience premature birth and baby loss, after one of her own twin boys was born prematurely at 24 weeks in January 2015 and died a few hours after birth.

To celebrate what would have been Leo's 10th birthday, Ms King and the charity's supporters lined colourful stones up on Roseberry Topping, a hill on the edge of the North York Moors, to help people feel "connected".

"It was lovely just to see lots of people turn up and just be part of Leo," she said.

Ms King, who is from Yarm, Stockton, said the celebration produced two "really big emotions".

"I miss my little boy and I would give anything to have him here.

"But I'm also so grateful to all the people he's brought into my life. I feel very blessed for that."

More than 30 people turned up, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Stockton and the midwife who looked after Ms King during her pregnancy.

People could sponsor a stone for however much they felt comfortable with, with one donor contributing £8.70 because their baby was born at 870g.

Ms King said she hoped people who walked the same route in the coming days would see the stones and feel "connected, knowing there is support in place now".

Just under £2,000 was raised from the event, which will go towards funding the charity's neonatal services, which have been struggling.

In December, its neonatal counselling and trauma service was forced to close.

Ms King said the services Leo's provided were "crucial" and could be "lifesaving for a lot of people".

"We're still trying to raise funds and apply for funding in the hope we can bring it back because it's an important service," she said.

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