'Sounds for Sands' gig to raise money for stillbirth charity

A mum on the Island has organised a gig with a difference this weekend as local bands will take to the stage to raise money for a cause close to her heart.

Known to many here as a competitive skateboarder - and from her work with Gal Skate - Ali Mellor lost her daughter, Belle, nearly 14 years ago, after she was stillborn at 36 weeks.

She says the support she received from UK charity Sands was 'invaluable' in helping support her through the loss, which is treated by many as 'a bit of a dirty secret and a taboo subject'.

Sands (aka the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) is the UK’s leading pregnancy and baby loss charity, working to support everyone touched by pregnancy loss or the death of a baby.

It's a reality thousands of parents and families face in the UK every year.

According to Sands, 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth, every day.

At least one in six pregnancies end in miscarriage.

You can find out more about the charity and their work HERE.

Last year, Ali held her first fundraiser in memory for Belle for her 13th birthday - a skate on Douglas Promenade.

This year, she's swapping the skateboard for live music.

SOUNDS FOR SANDS

This Saturday (21 March) three local bands - Smoking Fingers, Swarf Damage and Half Naked Headline - will be playing a special 'Sounds for Sands' fundraiser at the Rovers Return pub in Douglas.

It's free to go along but there will be buckets at the pub for donations, and a JustGiving page is currently live, with a goal of £500.

Siobhán Fletcher sat down with Ali to find out more about the gig and why the charity means so much to her.

But first, she asked her to tell us more about her daughter:

 

DONATE

If you can't get to the gig on Saturday and would like to donate, you can do so via the JustGiving page, HERE.

You can hear the full chat with Ali in our latest Newscast, available now:

SUPPORT

If you've been impacted by any of the issues in this report, you can find support HERE.