AN Earlston family who have campaigned and fundraised tirelessly since the death of their baby boy have launched a legacy project at the Scottish Parliament.

Marie and Keith Briggs have raised over £15,000 to fund the memory-making project, Joe’s Toes, in conjunction with CHAS for parents who are dealing with the loss of a child.

The couple welcomed identical twin boys to the world, eight weeks early in February 2018.

Tommy was born shortly after Joe, who was sadly stillborn as a result of twin to twin transfusion syndrome.

Tommy spent five weeks in hospital and was cared for both in Special Care Baby Unit in Borders General Hospital and Simpsons Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.

Driven to help fellow families coping with similar loss, Marie and Keith collaborated with CHAS on a memory making project in memory of Joe.

In recognition of their endeavour, the family won Tommy’s ‘Inspirational Family of the Year’ in the summer.

Ahead of their last fundraiser of the year - Dalkeith Country Park’s Santa Run - Marie and Keith joined representatives of CHAS to officially launch the legacy project.

Marie said: “2019 has been a fantastic first year for Joe’s Toes and we cannot thank everyone enough for their generosity.

"This year we have seen everything from a 100 mile challenge to a head shave, from multiple half marathons to bingo bonanzas.

"We are astounded by the support shown to us by our local community and further afield.

“We hope everyone knows the difference this will make to bereaved and soon to bereaved parents in their darkest hours.

"Every donation makes all the difference in helping provide this service to a family in need.

“Thank you everyone for your kindness. We wish you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!”

The funds raised for Joe’s Toes allows 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.

Sarah Dannfald, community fundraiser for CHAS, said: “We are so thankful to the Briggs family for all their fundraising efforts for CHAS, to help us provide even more families with those precious special memories that will stay with them forever.

“Marie and Keith have inspired so many of their friends, family and neighbours to join them and to date they have raised over £15,500 in memory of Joe.

"For that we are so grateful and will allow us to provide over 350 families with the opportunity to make 3D casts of their child’s hand or foot, and display it beautifully in the Joe’s Toes Box.”

During 2019, the Briggs family’s fundraising group has tackled the Tour de Lauder 89-mile cycling challenge, the Edinburgh half marathon, Gateshead 10k with the Great North Run, Loch Ness Marathon and many more physically arduous events.

They have so far raised an astounding £15,500, more than trebling the initial £5,000 target they set themselves.

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