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TV star meets bereaved dad's new baby after Twitter appeal | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A TV presenter who shared a bereaved father's charity appeal on social media has met the man's "rainbow baby". | |
Jake Humphries tweeted about Watford fan Ross Coniam's #Nine4Norah challenge after spotting his fundraising hoodie at the FA Cup semi-final in April. | |
More than £50,000 has been donated since the BT Sport presenter shared the appeal with his 900,000 followers. | |
On Sunday, Humphries met Mr Coniam and his wife Naomi's son Ernie at a fun day to celebrate his year of challenges. | |
A rainbow baby is a term given for a healthy baby born to parents who have experienced the loss of a child. It stems from the idea that a rainbow, symbolising hope and comfort, follows the storm of grief caused by a baby dying. | A rainbow baby is a term given for a healthy baby born to parents who have experienced the loss of a child. It stems from the idea that a rainbow, symbolising hope and comfort, follows the storm of grief caused by a baby dying. |
Mr Coniam set himself nine challenges after his daughter Norah died nine hours after being born in May 2018. | |
The father said he "can't thank Jake enough" for sharing his fundraising page to his 900,000 followers on Twitter. | |
"It's become bigger than I ever imagined," he said. | |
Humphrey said the experience was the "greatest" moment he has had online. | |
"Social media can be a thoroughly negative, demoralising place, but the Nine 4 Norah story restored my faith in people on the platform," he said. | |
Speaking at the fun day in Letchworth, Humphrey said he did not take any credit for the money raised. | |
"I was just the facilitator who had the opportunity with a large platform to send the message out there for this man's amazing work," he said. | "I was just the facilitator who had the opportunity with a large platform to send the message out there for this man's amazing work," he said. |
"This is about Ross. Lots of people will lose a child but they won't go and do was Ross has done." | "This is about Ross. Lots of people will lose a child but they won't go and do was Ross has done." |
Mr Coniam had to postpone one of nine challenges, the Great North Run on Tyneside, due to an injury, but hopes to complete it next year instead. | |
Among the challenges he has completed are the London Marathon and a 135-mile walk from Gloucestershire to his daughter's grave. | Among the challenges he has completed are the London Marathon and a 135-mile walk from Gloucestershire to his daughter's grave. |
Mr Coniam has been raising money for the stillbirth and neo-natal death charities Sands and 4Louis, Iolanthe Midwifery, and Keech Hospice in Luton. |