Get Denise and Kay to PLIDA Conference 2016

$20 of $8,000 goal

Given by 1 generous donor in around 7 months

Fundraising to help get Denise and Kay to the the 2016 International Perinatal Bereavement Conference in Phoenix Arizona, September 2016

Bay of Plenty

Denise and Kay have booked to go to the PLIDA conference in Phoenix, Arizona in September. With all they do for Sands BOP we would love to fundraise some money to help them with the huge expense it is to attend.

Denise is an integral part of Sands BOP. As our coordinator she is the driving force behind the committee to keep us going. She ensures gift packs are compiled and supplied to the hospital in maternity suite, Ward 3c and to ED. She is the first point of contact for the hospital, midwives and bereaved families in the Bay of Plenty for support and information. Her passion and drive is endless, whether it be the free casting service she started for bereaved parents, creating our brochures and inkless kits or importing moses baskets... she seems to do it all! Chances are if you were supported at the hospital or in your home in the last 4 years, Denise was there! She is passionate about helping families through their grief journey.

Her journey post her loss has seen her recently qualify as a counsellor allowing her to offer professional counselling support to many parents in need. She is currently donating her time at St Peters House, as well as to local parents who require perinatal counselling.

Kay is a well known and loved face around Tauranga where she has been a midwife for many years. She is admired for her compassionate nature when caring for pregnant ladies and is rapidly being recognised as 'the one' for a rainbow pregnancy (pregnancy after a loss).

Kay's role as Chairperson of Sands BOP keeps her busy, especially as her passion is to educate and improve hospital systems in Tauranga with regards to Sands and how professionals care for families experiencing a loss.

Both Denise and Kay sit on the Sands NZ Board so their knowledge and help is shared not only locally, but nationally as well!

Denise and Kay have both been offered the chance to travel to Phoenix Arizona to attend the PLIDA conference to learn more about what other countries do to support bereaved parents. They hope to bring back a wealth of knowledge they can use in NZ and pass on to future Sands support people.

Although their hearts are generous enough to fund the trip themselves, please help us raise as much money as we can to go towards their trip - we are sure their experience and knowledge will be shared for many years in our community!!

PLIDA stands for Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance. If you want to learn more about the PLIDA conference, please go to their website http://www.perinatalbereavementconference.org/

Or if you want to know more about PLIDA please go to their website http://www.plida.org/

About us

Sands Bay of Plenty is a parent-run voluntary non-profit organisation and registered charity which has been set up to support parents and families who have experienced the death of a baby.

Sands Bay of Plenty offers support in Tauranga for families of babies who have died at the time of their loss and for the years to come. We provide newly bereaved parents with gift packs to help create memories with baby, blankets and clothing for baby, and offering support when needed.

We promote baby loss awareness and provide support for those dealing with the death of a baby - during any stage of pregnancy or newborn and infant death.