Staff at Holmes and Family Funeral Directors in Ashford, Surrey held a charity car wash on Thursday 21st October.

The events will aim to raise funds towards buying a Cuddle to help parents dealing with the loss of a baby. We hope to be able to raise enough money to buy a Cuddle Cot which will allow more time for parents to spend together with their child. These precious moments can really help bereaved families at such a difficult time.

Oliver Holmes, Director of Holmes and Family says: “We appreciate any support and have set up a JustGiving page, we will be holding all sorts of fundraising events over the next few months, as well as challenging ourselves in various ways. I know my Dad (David Holmes) is upping his daily steps and giving up sugar for a month!”

The car wash at the Holmes family’s new branch in Convent Road, Ashford in Surrey was a real success and we got to meet some of the local community. David Holmes first funeral business had a shop in Ashford in 1992 and is now a part of the Ford Mears group having been sold over 20 years ago. The Holmes family has come home to Ashford where the children were born at Ashford hospital, we’ve come full circle says David!

David Holmes’s daughter, Oliver’s sister Madeleine made a cake for the event. A huge hit with all who tasted it. David says: “Madeleine is my eldest child and she inspired our name originally” The family name was adopted after the Holmes family took part in Alex Polizzi’s BBC programme ’The Fixer.’

The Holmes Family Funerals team raised £95 at the car wash, their running total so far is £175.

A Cuddle Cot is a portable cooling Moses basket that enables parents to bring their baby home and spend valuable time together before the funeral. Without a Cuddle Cot, baby and family are often separated well in advance of the funeral causing further distress. The Cuddle Cot gives the parents the choice of where their baby will be cared for before the funeral, even bringing them home. Without a Cuddle Cot or specialist equipment, babies are looked after at hospital mortuaries, which can't provide the personal care families need.

The Holmes family proudly provides funeral services to local parents of babies without charge.

To visit the Holmes Family Funerals Just Giving fundraising page click here.

To read more about Cuddle Cots, visit: https://flexmort.com/cuddle-cots/