Locals help raise £7,000 in memory of Sienna

Alison Harrison-Mitchell, owner of Paul Shappiro hairdressers in Lisburn, has been raising funds for the Perinatal Trust Fund for many years.

She recently presented £7,005 to the Royal Victoria Hospital’s neo-natal unit.

Among those who helped raise the money were members of the Dromore Spinning Class at Dromore Community Centre, who gathered £1,000 while training for a maracycle.

Alison, now a mother of three young boys, has over the eyar raised more than £20,000 for the Perinatal Trust Fund , which helps to care for sick children.

Alison’s daughter Sienna, was born 26 weeks premature on April 7, 2007, and lived for just two days; she weighed just 2lb 4oz.

“I love to do these things to keep Sienna’s memory and name alive,” said Alison.

“I also like to get recognition for the charity as well.”

The £7,005 Alison helped to raise will go towards providing a defibrillator and two phototherapy blankets for the neo-natal unit.

It also included £1,000 Alison raised by selling off reindeer food to local shops and businesses.

“When we are doing anything and I get an amount of money I contact the technician at the neo0natal and ask them what they need,” she said.

“If they tell me what something costs then I know how much money to aim for. Every single penny we collect goes to the charity.”

Alison said her family too had been very supportive of her efforts.

“My family are all very good and never forget Sienna,” she said.

“When it’s birthdays or Christmas they will never forget Sienna’s name and they will put money into an envelope and hand it to me; that also goes to the charity.”

In recent times Alison has helped to buy an incubator, syringe driver and air bags.

“If I know how much is needed and we are slightly short of what we need then I will put the rest of the money to it myself,” she said.

“I feel honoured that I was given a few days with Sienna. I am thankful for that.

“If what I do helps just one other family, then it is worth it.

“When Sienna was born the staff were all so lovely, very attentive and caring.

“No matter what I asked them they helped me in whatever way they could and for that I am truly grateful. Nothing was ever too much for them.”