A FAMILY from Blyth Bridge wants to repay the kindness shown to them during the recent loss of their baby.

Sam and Doug Hogge, along with their two older children Rachel and Ethan, were left devastated when baby Grayson was still born on October 7 at Borders General Hospital.

But the heartbreak was eased slightly by the compassion shown by staff within the ward as well as vital help from charity SiMBA.

The Simpson Memory Box Appeal provides cuddle cots to allow for parents to spend time with their still-born babies.

And grieving couples are also presented with memory boxes of their child to provide further comfort in the weeks, months and years ahead.

Seven weeks on from losing Grayson, Sam now wants to give something back.

The 35-year-old told the Peeblesshire News: "These have been the worst seven weeks imaginable and unless you have lost a baby I don't think anyone could imagine what it's like.

"I would like to thank the midwives at Borders General Hospital who looked after us - the three of them were like a rock during our worst time.

"And if it hadn't been for SiMBA we wouldn't have the memories of Grayson that we can hold on to.

"People don't talk about still births and I hadn't heard of the work SiMBA did until I needed them - I want to change that now."

Sam and Doug have set up a justgiving page to support the work of SiMBA.

And Sam's sister Kirsty is making and selling bracelets in Grayson's memory to also support the child-loss charity.

Each cuddle cot supplied by SiMBA to allow grieving parents time with their baby cost around £1600.

Memory boxes presented to parents also cost £40.

Sam and Doug hope to raise £2,500 for the charity - and have already raised more than £1,000 through the fundraising page in Grayson's memory.

Sam added: "When I'm stronger, both physically and mentally, I would like to organise fundraising events and do something for SiMBA but at the moment I'm not up to it.

"We have set up the justgiving page and hope that people, rather than going for a cup of coffee will donate the money to a charity which has made such a difference for us.

"I want to raise money in memory of my little darling and I want people to openly talk about still birth.

"We are devastated and life will not be the same for us again - but hopefully we can do a little good."

Sam and Doug's justgiving page is available at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Samantha-Hogge?fbclid=IwAR2V1riiknG4j0EUcwuPybIBS3DmiJarzJCU-QQRWbuJoI8lx7OzJV8oog0 or by searching for Samantha Hogge on the Justgiving website.