Baby Beat Christmas market heralds start of festive season in Barton!
A much loved pop-up Christmas market, which to date has raised £30,626 for mums and babies charity Baby Beat, is to take place for its 10th consecutive year on 27th November, having now become a fixture that heralds the start of the festive season for many of its loyal patrons!
Doors to the free entry market in Barton Village Hall will open at 6 pm for Christmas gift hunters to browse more than 30 stalls, selling unique, largely home crafted potential presents such as jewellery, bath and beauty products, candles, fudge and cakes. There will also be a tombola stall, raffle and refreshments.
The market’s organisers are Barton husband and wife duo Jonathan and Rachel Lees, who are helped by family and friends.
The couple, who both work in finance for the NHS, decided to fundraise for Baby Beat after being supported by Baby Beat funded projects following the birth of their first baby, son Joseph Sterling Lees, who was born sleeping in July 2015. Rachel said: “I had had a straight forward pregnancy and labour. We were in total shock and disbelief.
“Jonathan and I stayed together on the delivery suite over the next few days and Joseph was able to stay with us. During this time, we bathed and dressed Joseph and had plenty of cuddles with him. We took lots of photos and made hand and footprints.
“Having time on the unit allowed us to make some wonderful memories that we will treasure forever in our hearts. We were offered practical support to help with things such as the birth registration and making decisions about a post mortem and funeral arrangements. The care and support that we received allowed us come to terms with what had happened.”
Rachel continued: “We found out that Baby Beat had funded the suite we stayed on and facilitates stillbirth research and offers bereavement counselling, which is why we decided to raise money for the charity in loving memory of Joseph. That first market also gave us something to focus on.”
Rachel, who in April this year gave birth to their second child, son Ethan, added: “Over the years, the market has become a tradition. As one market ends, we have people saying they’ll see us again next year and as soon as it starts getting towards November, others start asking us when the market is on and telling us it marks the start of Christmas for them.”
Joanna Allitt, fundraising manager for Baby Beat, said: “Rachel and Jonathan have raised a phenomenal amount of money for Baby Beat over the years for which we are extremely grateful. They organise a truly lovely festive event and I’m sure that in the future, their Christmas market will help Ethan get to know his much loved big brother Joseph.”
As well as the market, the couple have an online fundraising page for Baby Beat in Joseph’s memory at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/josephsterlinglees
Baby Beat is part of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity family. It funds specialist equipment, patient services and comforts, clinical care, local research, additional training and staff welfare projects so that the maternity and gynaecology teams can offer the best possible outcomes for babies and mums in the Central Lancashire and Chorley area.
With Baby Beat’s support, NICU continues to provide exceptional care for premature and sick babies and their families from across Lancashire and South Cumbria. For further information on Baby Beat’s work and how to support, visit www.babybea.org.uk