Ref. 27982-23A Swindon nursery teacher who lost her three-day-old son to cot death is helping raise funds for charity with a special baby calendar.
Caroline Belson, 44, and her husband Nick, 43, are hoping the Baby Firsts calendar will be a popular way of raising cash for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID).
The couple, of Forge Fields, in Lydiard Millicent, lost their baby Samuel 20 years ago, and are dedicating the calendar to his memory.
They now have a 17-year-old daughter Amy, who is a student at Cirencester College.
Caroline, who teaches at Oliver Tomkins Infant and Nursery School, in Toothill, said: "The idea stemmed from losing Sam. Since I work in a school and Nick has a design company, Origin Design, it means we have tied together our two links.
"We try and help the charity as much as possible. Before I had Sam, I had been on fertility treatment so to lose him after that was just awful.
"It felt like waiting five years for Christmas only to lose it immediately.
"Amy is extremely precious to us. We couldn't have more children after her."
As well as raising cash for FSID the calendar has helped the family too.
Caroline explained: "We talk about Sam all the time, and we have found that the calendar is a wonderful way of keeping his memory alive. It seems to make everything that happened seem relevant in a way.
"The staff and parents here have been lovely. I think people are starting to avoid me now as I want to sell as many calendars as possible!"
Illustrators from as far afield as Australia and Argentina have captured the milestones in a baby's first year in the calendar.
These include the first step, the first toy and the first word.
Nick said: "We wanted to do something a bit different for 2004 and Baby Firsts is a true original. It's refreshing that people are still willing to donate their time, effort and skills to a worthy cause.
"The result is something we can all be proud of, a great idea, beautifully illustrated and produced to a very high quality.
"We hope people will also support FSID by buying it and enjoying it."
Pupils at the Oliver Tomkins Infant and Nursery School gave their own opinions on the calendar.
Chloe Chandler, three, said: "I like the green things on the people."
And four-year-old Tyana Grace liked one picture, "because he's got a funny face".
Baby Firsts is being sold for £5 in Oliver Tomkins Infant and Nursery School. For more information call the school on 01793 870471.
Call FSID helpline on 0870 787 0554 or email fsid@sids.org.uk.
Alex Emery
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