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Tonbridge’s final pre-season friendly will be a fundraiser in memory of Angels coach James Scott’s baby girl.
Sophia was stillborn on Sunday, November 8 last year, the day after Tonbridge’s FA Cup first-round tie against Bradford City.
James and wife Aileen were devastated to learn Sophia had died suddenly in the womb, just days before her due date.
They are raising money for Tommy’s, a charity which specialises in miscarriage and stillbirth prevention.
A justgiving page has more than doubled its £1,000 target and fans at Saturday’s home game against Dover are invited to donate money to Tommy’s as the Scotts look to stop more parents suffering heartbreak.
Sharing their story, James and Aileen said: “When Sophia was born, she was perfect - ten fingers, ten toes, with Daddy’s nose and lips and Mummy’s eyes, Daddy’s big feet and long legs and Mummy’s delicate hands and chubby cheeks.
“Like any new parents, we were - and still are - completely in love with our baby.
“The ache of missing Sophia is with us all day, every day, like a little bird sitting on our shoulders.
“We do everything we can to include Sophia in life’s little moments and parent our baby from afar.
“We visit her resting place regularly and make sure her flowers and little ornaments, trinkets and teddies are looked after.
“We dress her ‘bed’ (as we call it) with seasonal decorations so that she is in some way connected to this world.
“We take Sophia’s bunny teddy on holiday with us so that we feel like part of her is coming with us.
“It may seem strange but it’s the only way through the devastation of living without our longed-for baby girl.
“Our wish is to keep talking about our daughter so that her memory lives on, which is why we wanted to include her story.
“The other reason for sharing Sophia’s story is to raise awareness of baby loss. Sadly, so often people pretend it doesn’t happen and choose not to acknowledge the pain and suffering of the bereaved parent.
“We want to change this as actually experiencing baby loss is far harder than acknowledging it.
“Walking out of the hospital without our baby was unbearable.
“Closing the door to Sophia’s nursery was heart-breaking. Carrying Sophia’s tiny casket to her place of rest is a feeling that will never leave us.
“We would love it if you would join us in raising money for this life saving charity so that your children or your children’s children don’t have to endure the pain and heartache of losing a child before birth.
“It would bring us lots of comfort knowing that our daughter, Sophia Teresa Rose Scott, has inspired people to donate to Tommy’s which in turn will impact the lives of babies, who will be given a better chance at living the life that was taken from our baby girl.”
To donate online, click here
