A HEARTBOKEN couple who endured every parents’ nightmare of having to leave hospital without their baby are on a mission for the Bradford bereavement charity which helped them cope with their loss.

Mickey Emmott and his partner Kate Varley are concentrating their efforts into raising money for Bradford SANDS, which offers support and help for parents affected by stillbirth and neonatal deaths.

The couple, of Laurel Grove, Silsden, had seen a perfect 4D-scan of their baby boy, who they named Archie, in September 2014. But less than a day later they were told their baby had died.

Archie was induced and the couple were able to spend one night with him at Airedale Hospitals’ bereavement suite before having to say their goodbyes.

“The 4D scan was perfect and we went home happy but the next day Kate rang me to say she wasn’t feeling the baby move so we went to hospital and they couldn’t find a heartbeat,” said Mr Emmott, 26, who works as a joiner.

“We had his funeral two weeks later and we asked for permission for his ashes to rest with his brother Sonny, a little boy Kate had lost before. Thinking they are with each other gives us some comfort, but it has been a struggle.

“I was self-employed, trying to comfort Kate and helping keep Kate’s daughter Lilly occupied, having to explain why her mummy wasn’t having a baby anymore. It was a strain for us.”

A few months later, Miss Varley got in touch with Bradford Sands, a stillbirth and neo-natal charity supporting parents.

“We could not have got through this without their help. Kate helps others turning up at the group now and I want to help the group for all the help we’ve had.

“I am going to be taking part in events and organising challenges for myself to get myself out of my comfort zone and try to raise money for SANDS and give them something back to help other parents going through this horrific and traumatic experience.

“When Kate got pregnant again this group was fantastic for Kate, a tough, scary nine months of pregnancy was eased by the great people at SANDS, now we have our baby Quinn Alana. I can’t thank Sands enough for being there for Kate and giving her all the extra support she needed.”

He organised a charity rugby match at Silsden ARLFC on Saturday, he is also doing a ten-mile tough-mudder run on August 6 and is looking at putting on future fundraisers. He has so far been given £1,000 in donations.

Anyone who wants to donate to Bradford SANDS can do so through justgiving.com/Bradford-sands1