AN Earlston family who are encouraging broader support for those dealing with the loss of a child were awarded a Tommy’s Award last weekend.

Through a marathon series of fundraising activities and a flurry of social media activity Keith and Marie Briggs won the Tommy’s ‘Inspirational Family of the Year’ award.

The couple were invited to the London ceremony after inspiring friends, family and the community to come together to raise nearly £10,000 for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland.

Famous author, presenter, and spouse to former McFly singer, Giovanna Fletcher presented the award to the inspirational couple.

Her fellow presenter on the night was Strictly Come Dancing Winner, Ore Oduba.

Tommy’s Awards are for families everywhere who have been touched by pregnancy complications or the loss of a baby, and faced their circumstances with courage, bravery and solidarity.

This particular award celebrates that ‘extra-special family that has transformed the lives of others, or supported each other through troubled times and come out the other side’.

Marie and Keith Briggs welcomed identical twin boys to the world, eight weeks early in February last year.

Thomas (Tommy) was born shortly after Joseph (Joe) Briggs who was stillborn as a result of twin to twin transfusion syndrome.

Tommy spent five weeks being cared for in both the Special Care Baby Unit in the Borders General Hospital and Simpsons Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh before being well enough to be discharged home.

Driven to help fellow families coping with similar loss, Marie and Keith are now collaborating with CHAS on a memory making project called ‘Joes Toes’ in honour of their baby boy.

Their social media groups have subsequently drawn in a great deal of public support.

Marie said: “Our little Joe has given us, and now other families, so much without even being here.

“He never drew breath, but he has changed us forever as he reminded us all of how precious and fragile life can be.

“Every day is a challenge, but he showed us that we have a strength within individually, and as a family, that can move mountains.”

The funds raised for Joe’s Toes will allow CHAS to purchase the materials required to make baby hand and foot-casts, as well as special boxes to house them in, respectfully done in Joe’s name.

This type of memory making has generally been offered by CHAS within the Hospice, however taking it into the Neonatal Unit is pioneering work, providing another opportunity for parents to make precious lasting memories following the death of their baby.

So far, the Briggs family’s fundraising group has tackled the Tour de Lauder 89 mile cycling challenge, with an additional 11 miles added to make it to Borders General Hospital, and the Edinburgh half marathon.

They also have the Great North Run, Loch Ness Marathon and a ladies cocktail night still to come in the next few months.

So far, they have raised £9,451.60, almost double the initial £5,000 target that was set.

Marie added: “Although we are beginning to learn to cope with the loss we have experienced, we will always grieve for what we are missing.

“Our babies will always be in our thoughts and carried in our hearts.

“Attending this awards ceremony was absolutely one of the highlights of our journey and we are so thankful to all at Tommy’s, our family, friends, all professionals involved, fundraisers, our community offline and online, and everyone who has cheered us on from the side-lines.

“As well all those special people, the true inspirations for this award are undoubtedly Rosie, Tommy, and of course Joe, Murray and the two tiny little birds we lost too soon, who all give us strength every day.

“The amazing work and research that Tommy’s do aims to prevent other parents experiencing the loss we have, to acknowledge the losses that have happened and to break the taboo of miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal loss.

“Thank you again Tommy’s. We are in awe of all the incredible work you do!”

Anyone wishing to sponsor the project can do so via the family’s Everyday Hero page at https://give.everydayhero.com/uk/joe-s-toes