Five Leicestershire mums who were helped by ADAPT when their babies were born prematurely are to take to the catwalk to raise money for the local charity in a fashion show organised by the law firm Howes Percival LLP with the support of John Lewis.
Seven lawyers from the Leicester office of Howes Percival will also take to the catwalk in a special fashion show at the Leicester Tigers in aid of ADAPT, the premature and poorly baby charity. The lawyers and mums will don John Lewis’s summer fashions for the show on Thursday May 13.
One of the mums is Rebecca Brooks, whose daughter Sophie weighed just 3lb 2oz when she was born at the Leicester Royal Infirmary last December. Rebecca, 21, of Beaumont Leys, was already grateful for the support she received from ADAPT when her first child, Joshua, was born prematurely in January 2009 and sadly died just a few weeks later.
Rebecca said Sophie is doing well and gaining weight but, at five months old, is still the size of a newborn: “When she was born she was so small she was like a little dot. She stopped breathing in the first couple of hours but was brought round quickly and recovered, and since then her health has been perfect. After being in intensive care she was allowed home on Christmas Eve, which was magical. She is an absolute godsend, and I love her to bits.
“The ladies from ADAPT were wonderful, they helped me so much – often just by talking and reassuring me. Lesley from ADAPT had helped me when Joshua was born and died, an experience for which I have no words to describe. Without her I would have cracked under the pressure.
“Every time I held Sophie I was panicking that she was too cold, because the last time I held Joshua when he had died he was cold. ADAPT gave me the confidence to be a mum again.”
The other mums taking part are: Libbi Law, of Leicester Forest East, whose daughter Gaby was born at 31 weeks; Vanessa Lett, also of Leicester Forest East, whose daughter Evie was born at 25 weeks; Hayley Franklin, of Kirkby Mallory, whose daughter Megan was born at 24 weeks; and Estelle Burton, of Bagworth, whose twin boys George and Peter were born at 34 weeks.
The evening event has been organised by two Howes Percival solicitors; Jenna Bruce and Richard Tomlinson. Jenna said: “It’s going to be a great event. It will not only be fun but will also raise much-needed money for ADAPT’s work, which is incredibly valued by parents at what is a very worrying time for them.”
ADAPT is the Howes Percival Leicester office’s chosen charity to support during 2010. The charity was set up in 1995 by Rob and Fiona Morris, following the premature birth of their son Harry who spent nine long months on the neonatal units before being allowed home. ADAPT offers help and a support network to parents of babies who require neo-natal special are.
Sue Williams, ADAPT’s Development Co-ordinator, said: “We are all very excited about the fashion show, and the mums taking part are all looking forward to being models for the evening. Our thanks go to Howes Percival for organising the event.”
Jenna approached the John Lewis store at Highcross Leicester, and was delighted by the response. “The partners at John Lewis have been very enthusiastic about the show and it is fantastic to have such a well known brand involved.”
Chaz Kotecha, Marketing and Community Liaison Co-ordinator at John Lewis Leicester, said: “We are proud to support ADAPT and Howes Percival to raise funds for this local charity which is helping families in Leicester with support, through what can be a difficult time.”
Clarins is supplying make-up, while BBC Young Hairdresser of the Year Chris Appleton, from George’s Hairdressing in Leicester will style the models from Howes Percival and ADAPT. Jewellery is being supplied by BettyDaisy.
Seven of Jenna’s colleagues at Howes Percival have risen to the challenge of making their catwalk debut. The seven are: partners Matt Talbot and Jane Cowley; director Ralph Harris; associate solicitors Pam Allardice, Michael Briggs and Satnam Chayra; and solicitor Robin Biela.