Family 'over the moon' with charity football match

A family who raised more than £3,000 at a charity football match in memory of their baby daughter say they are "over the moon" with their total.

Mel and Alex Gray decided to hold a match to celebrate their daughter's birthday each year, since her death at three months old in 2019.

Saturday's event raised funds for the East Kent Hospitals Charity as a thank you for the care that staff at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford provided to their daughter.

Gracie, who would have turned five in August, was born 10 weeks early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy after suffering brain seizures.

After seven weeks in neonatal intensive care, her parents returned to their Tenterden home before Gracie died six weeks later.

With a target of £1,000, the couple said after the event they had raised about £3,300.

Mr and Mrs Gray said they were "over the moon" with the total from the event at Wittersham Sports Field, Tenterden.

Mrs Gray said she was "extremely grateful" to everyone who had donated and contributed to the fundraiser.

The family received support from the East Kent Hospital's Tiny Toes charity, which supports those with children in intensive care at the trust.

Mrs Gray told BBC South East the charity supported not just her and her husband but also her son Louie, who was eight at the time.

She added: "They couldn't have done any more for us, as a family as well."

Mr Gray said it "meant the world" to the family when they were able to take Gracie home, with specialist equipment.

He wore a number 19 shirt to represent the date of Gracie's birth and also the date she died, three months later.

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