A DAY of remembrance for families who have experienced the death of their child due to a terminal illness has been held.

Rainbow Trust, a national charity that provides support to families that have a child with a life threatening or terminal illness, organised the event, at Redworth Hall Hotel, near Darlington, earlier this month.

The charity has care teams across the country including one in Durham, which supports families in the North-East.

Anne Harris, director of care for the Rainbow Trust, said: “This is the third remembrance day that Rainbow Trust has held, but the first in the North East and we are glad that some many families could attend and found it helpful.”

Families who attended the remembrance day were given the opportunity to write a message on a family memory tree and to light a candle for their child.

Rainbow Trust Family Support Worker, Clare Beasley, who helped organise the event said: “This remembrance day was an opportunity for these families to get together with families who have experienced similar grief and to celebrate the lives of their children.”

Joanne Carr, from County Durham, whose daughter, Jasmine, died in February last year, aged just five months, said: “The day was brilliant, the kids absolutely loved it and it was great to meet other families who have been through something similar to us.

“It helped me talk about Jasmine and to be open about her, rather than keep how I feel to myself. It was nice to have a remembrance day, as it helps us focus on our daughter.”