Brockville and District Hospital Foundation

Media Releases

BUTTERFLY RUN RAISES FUNDS TO PURCHASE CUDDLE COT FOR BROCKVILLE GENERAL HOSPITAL'S WOMEN & CHILDREN'S PROGRAM

Following the stillborn birth of her daughter in 2017, Lesley Patry-Kerford attended a Butterfly Run in Ottawa. This event also inspired her give back to her local community and to raise awareness of the supports available for families who experience the loss of a baby.

While researching the various supports, Lesley stumbled on a medical device called a “cuddle cot.” Cuddle cots are widely used in many clinical settings and provides an in-room cooling system that allows families the opportunity for more time with their baby.

“Any family who suffers a loss wishes for just a few more minutes; time that they will never be able to have again,” says Patry-Kerford. “The cuddle cot provides families with this precious gift of time.”

When she saw this device, and the impact that it had on other families who had just lost a child, she knew that she wanted to raise funds that would equip Brockville General Hospital with this invaluable support resource.

Joan Simon, Executive Director of the Brockville and District Hospital Foundation (BDHF) stated, “Lesley’s commitment to helping other parents begin their healing process is to be commended. Organizing a fundraiser to purchase the cuddle cot clearly demonstrates her compassion for others within our community.”

In October of 2019, Patry-Kerford and her organizing team also held a Wave of Light event that raised funds for memory boxes for BGH’s Women & Children’s Program. Plans are also in the works for a Butterfly Run in October 2020.

Pictured here are: Lesley Patry-Kerford, organizer of Brockville’s 2018 Butterfly Run, joins Kellie Kitchen, Director of Women and Children’s Program, and Professional Practice at BGH (left) and Linda Hansen, Director, Brockville and District Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors (right) to unveil a cuddle cot purchased through the Butterfly Run. The cot will be used in BGH’s Women and Children’s Program to allow parents and families more time following the stillbirth of a child.

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