Charity fun day to be held in Daniel’s memory

Feb 25 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

THE mother of a Hamilton tot who died suddenly last year is planning a charity fun day to raise awareness of cot death.

Joanne Kelly (31), of Burnbank, is in the process of organising the fun day, which will be held at Blantyre Leisure Centre on Saturday, April 27.

Joanne and her fiance Colin Elliot (29) lost their son Daniel, who was only 20-months-old, suddenly on April 13 last year.

Since then, the tragedy has motivated the pair to raise money for a range of charities which raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Now the charity fun day will coincide with the first anniversary of little Daniel’s death.

Technical engineer Joanne hopes to have a number of activities at the event next month, including a car boot sale, a digibus, tombola, a raffle, a bouncy castle, face-painting, and a number stalls offering tea, coffee and homebaking.

The Scottish Cot Death Trust will also have an information stand at the event, as will the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Magician and entertainer Magic Den will be performing two half-hour shows at the event. Police horses will also be present at the event.

Joanne is also in discussions with a farmers’ market with a view to having them set up in the car park.

She said: “This is the first time I’ve ever run something like this.

“I have no idea what to do really, but I know that the more awareness for the event I can raise, the better.

“Most of the cash raised will go to the Scottish Cot Death Trust, with the rest going to The Haven centre, who helped us through counselling after Daniel’s death.

“On Daniel’s death certificate the cause of death is still listed as unexplained, so it is a sudden infant death. That’s all the post mortem could determine.

“However, there are still ongoing test to find out whether what happened to him was genetic. We are still trying to find answers.”

Last July, the Advertiser reported that Joanne’s partner Colin climbed Ben Nevis with a friend in memory of their son.

Colin was accompanied on the 4403ft ascent of Scotland’s highest peak by pal and neighbour, Thomas Henderson.

The pair raised £1500 for Yorkhill Hospital through their efforts.

Colin and Thomas took part in the gruelling climb on June 28, 2009.

Joanne explained: “I think they were very glad to get back down another four hours later to be greeted by family members, including our oldest son Ethan, who is five-years-old.

“He was delighted that his dad had just climbed a mountain for his little brother Daniel.”

Together the pair raised the cash from donations by family, friends and neighbours, and have expressed their gratitude at the support they have been given over the past few months.

The family fun day will take place at Blantyre Leisure Centre on April 27, from 9am.