A Bereavement Support Midwife from Bradford Royal Infirmary is taking part in a skydive to raise funds for a stillbirth and neonatal death charity which has helped many of her families.
Four days before her 60th birthday on September 11, Julie Key, will be leaping out of an aeroplane over Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria as she wants to raise at least £470 for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society (SANDS).
Julie, who is based on Ward M1 in Maternity, said: “I have worked as a Bereavement Support midwife for nearly 18 years and worked alongside SANDS which, like her role, supports women with pregnancy losses in Bradford, as well as supporting them in subsequent pregnancies.
On September 11, I will be 60 and a sky dive is something I have thought about for many years, so I’m not sure if I am brave or stupid, but I arranged it for Sept 7, a few days before my birthday.
I need to raise £470 but I would love to raise much more. I’ve never done anything like this before and I am not scared yet but I am sure I will be when I get ready to jump.
Sadly, the death of a baby is not a rare event. Around 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth every day in the UK
Julie, from Bradford, will be supported at the tandem skydive by her partner, Mark, family and friends, as well as those families who she has supported with pregnancy loss over the years.
Julie started working for the Trust in 1981 when she began her orthopaedic training at Woodlands hospital.
She then went on to do her nurse training, followed by her midwifery qualification.
She was inspired to join the Trust after being treated at St Luke’s Hospital as a child patient.
She added:
I have been a Type 1 diabetic for 47 years and was diagnosed aged 12 at St Luke’s where I spent a month on K2. It was while a patient I decided I wanted to be a nurse.
Through the ups and downs of living with diabetes, I thought it was time to do something to mark my life and raise money for a charity close to my heart, which is how the sky dive evolved.
All midwives are in an incredibly privileged position in joining women and their families in what can be one of the most exciting and joyful time in their lives, however, not every baby comes home and some parents are left with empty arms.
The SANDS charity exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it.
Julie continued:
SANDS help us provide a free memory box so that every bereaved family is able to create their own precious memories of their baby.
The skydive is my way of showing my support for this incredible charity, so please support me.
You can donate to Julie’s justgiving page here.