WHEN her first daughter was stillborn, Karen Hancox began a mission to help other people affected by child death.

She has worked to raise money for Sands (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death), of which she is Oxfordshire co-chairman.

Now the hard work of Sands is to be recognised with a reception at 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister’s wife, Samantha Cameron, will host the evening event for the national charity on Tuesday, November 19.

Mrs Hancox, 35, delivered full-term during a pregnancy with no foreseen problems on November 4, 2007. However her daughter Kayleigh was stillborn.

Since then the mum-of-two has set up the Angel Gifts Appeal to raise almost £13,000 for a baby memorial at Banbury’s Hardwick Hill Crematorium.

She also helped raise cash for a foetal heart monitor for the town’s Horton General Hospital.

The charity has also been shortlisted for the next stage of the Lloyds Bank Community Fund 2013 in which a public vote could win two charities £3,000.

Mrs Hancox, who lives in Banbury, said: “If we were awarded the £3,000, it would be amazing to raise our profile in the local community, as we work very hard to support not only bereaved families, but we also use our funds to donate antenatal equipment.”

The shortlisted charities are: The Sunshine Centre, The Isis Academy, Path Hill Outdoors Ltd, Riding for the Disabled Abingdon Group, The Marlborough/Ormerod School, Let’s Play Project, Cancer Research UK, Nomad Youth and Community Project, Independent Advice Centre, Bridewell Organic Gardens, Oxfordshire Sands, Emmaus Oxford, Henley Youth Centre, Larkmead School, Enstone Primary School, Fritwell Village Hall, Helen and Douglas House, Ladygrove Park Primary School, Nasio Trust, Bampton Youth Club, Oxfordshire Prostate Cancer Support Group, Girlguiding, Kidlington, Home-Start, Bicester, Bicester Food Bank, King’s Sutton First Community Responders.

FACTFILE

  • Seventeen babies are stillborn every day in the UK – a total of about 6,000 every year are stillborn or die within the first 28 days of life.
  • Stillbirth is more common than death in a road traffic accident and 10 times more common than cot death.
  • Oxfordshire Sands will be holding its Annual Baby Remembrance Service on Sunday, December 1 at 2.30pm at St Anthony of Padua Church, next to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford. All bereaved families are welcome to attend.