A mother whose daughter died suddenly and unexpectedly has devised a unique event to fund research into the little-known condition which killed her.
Two-year-old Rosie Louise Speed from Bovingdon had been looking forward to Christmas in 2013.
Rosie’s mum Nikki went to wake her daughter up one morning but, to her horror, found she had died during the night.
“There was nothing we could do to even try and save her,” she said.
“My husband’s efforts at CPR were futile and the look on the kind paramedic’s face when she saw Rosie confirmed what we already knew – she was gone.”
Rosie’s cause of death was Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC). SUDC occurs in children over one year of age and is a diagnosis of exclusion when there are no answers following post mortem and investigations. 2014 statistics show that more children die from SUDC than in fires, car accidents or by drowning.
Very little is known about the possible causes of SUDC, and Nikki says this means there is a desperate need to increase awareness and fund research.
Through a number of charity rides, runs and walks, and with the help of family, friends and people in the community, nearly £20,000 has so far been raised for The Lullaby Trust and the SUDC Foundation – two supportive foundations which strive to progress research into SUDC.
Funds have also been raised for Rosie’s Rainbow Fund, a charity which provides essential bereavement counselling.
In recognition of her daughter’s favourite activity, Nikki created “Rosie’s Summer Scoots” - an annual fun scooter ride around Bovingdon.
The inaugural event held last year attracted around 100 participants, and it is hoped that even more will attend this year’s occasion on Sunday, June 25.
All proceeds will go to SUDC UK, a charity set up by Nikki and two other bereaved mothers with the hope that one day, with more awareness and research, SUDC will be predictable and preventable.
“We wish that Rosie could have opened her presents that Christmas, and was now a thriving five-year-old in reception year at school,” added Nikki.
“However we are so very proud of our little girl and we hope that by donating our time and effort, and by sharing her story, Rosie’s legacy can help save children from SUDC in the future.
“Rosie lives on in all who love her and it has been heart-warming to receive such overwhelming support from so many.”
You can buy tickets for the event or donate directly to the charity at www.jumblebee.co.uk/scoot2017
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