In this most difficult of years, people have great worries of their own.

We believe, nevertheless, that it is more important than ever that we help others.

The Hereford Times Christmas Appeal 2020, in partnership with the Herefordshire Community Foundation, aims to help seven LOCAL charities in each of the key towns where the Hereford Times is read.

We invited the county’s mayors (and the mayor of Hay-on-Wye) to nominate a charity to receive an equal share of the funds raised.

RELATED NEWS:

Daniel Vesma, Mayor of Ledbury, has nominated the Madison Shelbie Trust, a charity that resonates closely with him.

"For the families of those who have lost their babies just before, during or just after birth, no Christmas will pass without wondering how different things would be without that empty chair.

"As for so many of us, the domestic run-up to Christmas in mid December is a cherished tradition in my house and I live for the sense of growing anticipation.

"It was during such a week in 2006 that the baby boy that my then-wife was carrying slipped away from us.

"He was just three weeks short of his due date. I was only in my early twenties, and the grief hit me like a train.

"I had come home from work to find my then-wife in the bath because she felt something was wrong.

Hereford Times:

"We rushed straight to the hospital where a scan failed to find a heartbeat.

"It was then a case of carrying him for a few days more until she could give birth.

"It had been a totally normal pregnancy and no reason was found, but it's such a big thing to put down to being 'one of those things'.

"We were very lucky that the midwifery team that day were there for us, and we were able to bathe and dress baby Bob, and spend some time with him.

"That experience was as good as one could hope, but I don’t think everyone is that lucky.

“The Madison Shelbie Trust could not resonate more with me in terms of its meeting a clear need at a very vulnerable time.”

Since it was founded by Sam Thompson, named after the daughter she lost, the Madison Shelbie Trust has directly supported over 350 parents, grandparents and siblings of babies who have passed away in Herefordshire.

The trust supports all bereavements, but those volunteers who deal with still births and neonatal deaths have had specialist training and experienced similar losses themselves.

To donate visit www.herefordshirecf.org/donate or send a cheque to the Herefordshire Community Foundation, The Fred Bulmer Centre, Wall Street, Hereford HR4 9HP.