Cot for stillborn babies on way

SUPPORTED: The Cuddle Cot campaign was a quick success.

Masterton mother Courtney Percy with partner Nick Olson is one step closer to bringing a Cuddle Cot to Wairarapa.

The campaign to raise $5000 to bring a cot with a cooling system to Wairarapa which helps preserve stillborn babies began in July.

The funds were raised by the community within six days of its conception.

Miss Percy said this week that $4775 had just been paid to ParMed Australia, "which means the Cuddle Cot is on its way to Masterton.

"I am just waiting to hear from ParMed that they have received the money, then they are shipping straight away.

"I'm expecting it early next week and then, with luck, I am hoping to have a morning tea with the maternity ward to gift it to them."

With the outpouring of community support also came the donation of items from people and Wairarapa businesses which will be auctioned and raffled off this month.

Miss Percy said any leftover funds would go into the Beau Olson Trust, which will be used for Cuddle Cot upkeep and maintenance, and will also go towards counselling for families who are in the grieving process for their stillborn baby.

The auction for donated items will be held at Lonestar Masterton on Wednesday, September 16, at 7pm. Some of the items include Mandy Emerson Art Panels, a $400 Lonestar voucher, a 2015 signed Wairarapa-Bush jersey, a return Interislander voucher for a family of four, and much more. There will also be two raffles.

Miss Percy thanked the community for their support on the A Cuddle for Beau Facebook page. "You guys have helped make this happen ..." she wrote. "All proceeds raised will go into the Beau Olson Trust to enable parents who will face this ordeal in the future to see a little bit of light."