Windmills Legacy Ball raises vital bereavement support funding for young people
Windmills bereavement charity saw hundreds of guests, come together on Saturday October 5, at Double Tree Hilton Moat House Hotel, for a Legacy Ball.
The event was held in memory of Becky Tinsley and raised over £27,000 for the continuation of specialist bereavement support for children and young people living in Staffordshire.
Becky Tinsley tragically and suddenly lost her life aged 31, in 2023 to cancer, leaving behind children Bobby and Myla who were aged just 9 and 6 at the time. Windmills charity founders Leeanne Clay and Zara Toussaint (image) attended the Royal Stoke Hospital one Sunday evening and at Becky’s bedside, took time in delivering the news to Bobby and Myla, that Mummy would die very soon.
They supported the children and immediate family to make memories at the bedside and ask any questions. Memory making activities are bespoke for each family based on their shared interests and special moments. For Becky, Bobby and Myla, a memory box with a family clay handprint and forever bears were used to provide an everlasting bond. Becky died within 12 hours.
Windmills continued to support Bobby and Myla to help to prepare them for their Mummy’s funeral and with the support of the funeral director, Leeanne and Zara supported Bobby and Myla to visit Becky to provide special time with Mum. Sessions continued the following months at home and school to allow for further exploration and understanding of Becky’s illness and death.
The Windmills charity is 100% funded through legacy donations, community fundraising activities, trusts and grants and contributions from local businesses, with Leeanne and Zara currently donating their time around their full-time employment, to offer their bereavement services to families across Staffordshire, free of charge.
Generously sponsored by Browns Recycling Ltd the Legacy Ball fundraising event has raised over £27k to help continue funding the charity’s work, that has already seen them support over 400 families since it was founded in 2020.
The entertaining evening was kindly hosted by Reverend Geoff Eze and included a live auction, silent auction, raffle, tombola, kids lucky dip and a disco until the early hours. With prizes from a washing machine to a Whitby weekend break, Stereophonics memorabilia to a special edition Windmill vase from Moorcroft pottery up for grabs.
Windmills Charity provides caring, empathetic and expert support to each child through talking, being present, confronting the situation and sharing and working with each child through creative sessions, visits and memory making activities, designed to help guide them through all of the confusion and emotions that news of a loved ones imminent death will inevitably bring. The focus of support is to help to confront and understand the impact and reality of death and its permanency whilst advocating to include children and young people when a loved one is dying.
The bereavement services offered by full time nurses Leeanne and Zara are 100% free to children and young people.
Leeanne, Windmills Charity founder commented: “The funds raised from this year’s ball will help make an immediate impact for the children/young people and their families across Staffordshire. We can’t thank people and businesses enough for their support of this special event in memory of Becky. Our thanks go to sponsor, Brown Recycling Ltd and Sherwin Rivers for printing our event programmes.”
