Family's final fundraising push in baby's memory

The family of a baby girl who died from sudden infant death syndrome are taking on a final year of fundraising challenges to mark what would have been her 21st birthday.

Lauren was just 18 weeks old when she passed away in her cot in 2003.

Since then, her parents have raised more than £22,000 for The Lullaby Trust.

This year they want to raise a further £21,000 to mark her milestone birthday and help others facing similar tragic circumstances.

Lauren’s mum, Emma Waudby, from Anlaby near Hull, said she had not heard of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), also known as cot death, before Lauren died.

Emma told BBC Radio Humberside: “I remember Lauren was just laid there in her cot. I rang an ambulance and they took her to the hospital but it was too late and it was then that it was determined that it was cot death, but I’d never even heard of it."

Lauren’s dad, Pete Waudby, added: “It was all a blur. One minute she was here and the next minute she’s gone and then here we are 21 years later.

"At first you start blaming yourself, questioning whether you’ve done something wrong but then we realised there was nothing we could have done differently and that’s heartwarming in itself to know that it wasn’t your fault.”

The couple, who also have a 26-year-old daughter and a 17-year-old son, said throwing their support into fundraising for The Lullaby Trust had been “invaluable”.

The charity raises awareness of SIDS, provides advice on safer sleep for babies and offers emotional support for bereaved families.

On 27 April, which would have been Lauren’s birthday, Emma and Pete are hosting a black tie ball at the MKM Stadium and Pete will be taking part in this year's London Marathon.

They are asking as many people as possible to take part in challenges linked to the number 21 to bring their fundraising to a close.

Emma said: “It’s got to the stage where I feel like we have to do something every year and this is like a sign-off. We will give ourselves the choice to fundraise but not feel guilty if we don’t.”

According to The Lullaby Trust there are around 200 unexplained deaths of babies and young children in the UK every year.

Chief Executive Jenny Ward said: "What we are here to do is to make these conversations and safety advice part of usual conversations we have with people when they have a baby because this is important advice to anybody.”

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