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Plea:
When I was younger I had no clue what type of job I would be good at, it took me 7 different types of job until I found my perfect one, now my week is filled with planning activities, granting wishes and spending much needed time re assuring parents and helping them through their journey.
The charity I help to run has many different aspects, we are not just a local charity, we give neonatal boxes to 20 hospitals, these give premature or underweight babies their own clothing and essentials for baby and parents. On top of this we are do all our own fundraising and raise much needed awareness of Trisomy 18. My friend and now colleague set up Emily’s Star in memory of her daughter Emily. I have seen her grow Emily’s star, beyond belief and put in hours and hours of unpaid love, care and attention into creating the best charity she possibly could and I for one am pleased to be a part of it.
There is something different about all my families, each and every one of them is unique and every child has a life limited illness/condition. We have no two children which are the same and every single one brings a smile no matter what they are doing or how they are feeling.
I have spent hours in hospitals playing with children, bringing them gifts or even taking their parents a much needed coffee. My job role can be endless and anything that our families require. My favourite of all time is bringing home a child from the John Radcliff hospital four days before Christmas in which he had spent over 9 months there away from his siblings and one of his parents.
I’m not very good at talking about myself but I do know this, each and every family has a place in my heart, including the ones that are no longer here. They help me to appreciate life and how much we can fulfil in such a short time. I am not the inspirational one, they are.
I have asked some of our families to write a few words
Chrissie and Scott say
“Darcy is great and a fantastic support for families like ours. She has visited us in hospital to cheer us up and always been there for a chat. She really puts her all into helping families and we are very grateful for her”
Emma, Lucas and Alfie say
Darcy has been such an amazing support to our family, she helps at stay and play sessions as I have 2 disabled children she is there to help if possible, she has also bought round amazing wish gifts from Emily’s star for the boys. Darcy is always going above and beyond for everyone and will always help whether it be visiting us in hospital entertaining my boys, or sitting next to them while I get a drink or a shoulder to cry on.
Written by Katie, Emily’s Mummy
I nominated Darcy for this award as to me she is an inspiration.
Darcy, herself has felt the heartbreak of losing a child, more than once, earlier this year her beautiful rainbow baby was born, a little sister for her eldest son Owen.
Since 2012 Darcy has grown within Emily’s Star & I personally couldn’t run this charity without her at my side, we often joke she is my “work wife” & I am sure her husband will agree she spends a lot of time away from him with me.
She is passionate, caring, thoughtful & would literally do anything for anyone.
All too often it is the mums who set up the charities that are nominated or acknowledged at these awards, although in their own right are inspirational, mums like me couldn’t do justice to their children’s legacy without right hand women like Darcy.
She is my inspirational mother whether she wins or not.
What others have said:
Darcy is our full time volunteer, she goes above & beyond what a normal volunteer does. She provides Emily’s Star with a steady backbone to help ensure all our neonatal boxes are beautifully finished, she works closely with our families & provides them with 24/7 help, advice & a friend. To me she selflessly gives up her free time to Emily’s Star to make a difference to our families, from the children we support to their siblings they all truly love Darcy & loves what she brings to Emily’s Star.
The hard work Darcy does shouldn’t go unnoticed and the support she gives to Katie is fantastic!
I met Darcy through Emily’s Star Agee years back and she has become a friend for life! She is so supportive and helps in anyway she can! I’ve made a friend for life and Darcy always give 100% in all the work she does xx best of luck sweetheart xxxx
I met Darcy helping a family and since then she has been nothing but nice to me, always been there for advice.. She would do anything to help anyone, there’s only few honest decent people out there and this lady is one of them few xxx
This young lady is amazing ! She has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She’s always there for anyone, anytime..whatever you need. .she’ll give you. She is one in a million and although were biased as all mums and dads are. .we’re very proud to say”that’s our girl”…Darcy. keep up the wonderful work you do. ..x
Good luck Darcy you so deserve this x
You deserve this for all your hard work cx
Darcy so deserves this xxxx
Darcy, your story is beautiful. I don’t even know you but I admire your generous heart. It is wonderful to see how much what you do is appreciated. Good luck!
Such a beautiful person, inside and out xx
The world needs more darcys
Good luck with this Darcy, You deserve some recognition for all your hard work.X
Way to go Darcy x
You deserve it hun xx
Darcy is such a lovely lady wish I had reliesed before such a kind soft spoken person.so proud to have her as my Daughter-in-law
You deserve this after all the hard work u do your amazing xx
U deserve this Darcy for all u do and ur just amazing
Darcy has a natural love and understanding of all things special..i don’t know her that well but i do know her mum which explains a big part of her..and when i have bumped into her over the years our conversations have always drifted towards the things she believes in and working towards..and its always those less fortunate than herself..good luck my love xxx
You deserve this Darcy . Your an inspiration to everyone . I’m so proud of you xx
Inspirational mother award my wife and friend whom I have known for over 20 plus years deserves this not just based on her Emily’s star work but for just being a mum to out son Owen and fighting against all authorities to get him the help he deserves with his autism and many other issues he has to cope with on a day to day basis. Then running our house hold while dealing with our 6 month old daughter sorting me out cos I’m just a big kid lol. But overall she is the most selfless wonderful kind hearted people I have ever met and will go above beyond to get what she wants for her families and friends and above all I’m proud to call her my wife x
Inspirational mother and volunteer at Emily’s Star
With everything this lady does its no surprise that she deserves this award ,good luck darcy
You are an inspiration to others!
Darcy deserves this more then ever. To see her next to a mother who lost so much, supporting her and giving her so much of her own time. You are an inspiration to all. Good luck Darcy. Emily will be shining bright and looking down I’m sure. ?
Good luck