A COUPLE still trying to come to terms with the tragic loss of their daughter hope to help prevent similar tragedy for other parents.
Neil Taylor and Natalie Watson, of Goosebutt Court, Parkgate, lost 12-week-old Lily-May in March last year.
Lily was a much wanted child, born prematurely, who spent two weeks in hospital before being allowed home.
But her parents' joy was sho
rtlived as they woke one morning to find their only child had died in the night. The only explanation they have is that they lost Lily-May to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
The shock was tremendous, recalled Natalie, 20: "It took weeks to sink in... no-one ever expects anything like this to happen to them.
"We just got up one morning and our little girl wasn't with us any more. It wasn't until after the funeral a month later that I started to accept it.
"Lily was smiling and laughing the evening before she passed away and was always happy. Never in a million years did we expect to be burying our child, but the 12 weeks we had together were so precious."
On July 12, Neil, 28, will undertake the British 10k London Run to raise funds for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
He has already completed a sponsored walk that has raised about £900.
Natalie, who is now expecting another child in October this year, explained that research in to sudden infant deaths is vital.
"All kinds of suggestions are made as to what might have happened, but no-one knows for sure," she said.
"Research will hopefully lead to some answers in the future. We will do as much as we can to help with this."
Meanwhile, anyone who would like to support Neil and the work of the FSID in its research and support to families who have lost babies in this way, can do so via the website
justgiving.com/neiltaylor7