Concert in baby Fleur's memory to raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospices
The memory of eight-day-old Fleur Clemence lives on with Music for a Summer Evening, a popular annual fundraiser that has helped raise more than £131,000 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH).
The event was set up by parents Charlotte and Grant following the death of their daughter, who was one of twins, eight years ago.
Charlotte gave birth to Fleur and Sophia on May 4, 2011. She and Grant knew Fleur would not live for long as a rare heart condition – hypoplastic left heart syndrome – had been detected at the girls' 20-week scan.
It meant the left ventricle of Fleur's heart was severely underdeveloped and her aorta was too small to pump blood around her body effectively.
After the twins were born, the family went home for their precious few days together and EACH staff visited to help with care and memory-making.
Bronte Graver, EACH Cambridgeshire & West Essex community fundraiser, said: "Fleur's legacy has obviously been incredible, with the efforts of Charlotte and Grant massively appreciated by everyone here at EACH. It costs us £5,600 a day to run our service in Cambridgeshire and West Essex, so Charlotte and Grant have paid for over 23 days since 2011.
"At the end of last year's event they asked us to take over the organisation of it and we were more than happy to do so.
"This year will feature songs from the nationally-known Rock Choir and opera from Jane Harrington, so gather together your family and friends, find some blankets or chairs, bring along a picnic and enjoy what promises to be a great summer's evening."
Although EACH fundraising staff are now organising the event on Saturday, July 6, it will continue to take place at the home of Charlotte, who works in interior design, and Grant, in insurance. The couple are also parents to Nancy Victoria.
EACH cares for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk.
That support is given at home, in hospital or at one of three hospices at Milton (Cambridge), Quidenham (Norfolk) and The Treehouse (Ipswich).
The charity, whose patron is the Duchess of Cambridge, relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income and each year needs to raise more than £6m from fundraising and £4m from its shops.
Doors to the grounds of Little Hallingbury Place, in Wrights Green Lane, will open on Saturday at 6pm, with entertainment getting under way from 7pm. Tickets are £15 for adults and £10 for those aged 12 and under, available from www.each.org.uk/musicforasummerevening
