Record Fundraising from Baby Sensory Could Fund a Tommy’s Research Centre for Over a Year

Multi award-winning, nationwide preschool class providers Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense, founded and developed by Dr Lin Day, have collectively raised an incredible £481,712 for Tommy’s, the UK’s largest pregnancy charity funding vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature birth. The record-breaking total could fund a Tommy’s research centre for a year, enabling scientists to continue their life-saving work.

The funds were raised as part of a nationwide campaign, Tommy’s Sensathon, in partnership with Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense franchises across the UK. The initiative saw little ones dress up in their finest Wild West outfits and complete six sponsored ‘Yee Ha!’ themed challenges at classes nationwide.

Sean McKeon, Managing Director at Baby Sensory commented, “We are thrilled and extremely proud to have raised such a phenomenal amount of money for Tommy’s. It has been a tough couple of years for most people and to have achieved what we have is amazing. We know what a difference this funding will make to people’s lives too, which makes what we do all the more rewarding.”

Since the first Tommy’s Sensathon was launched in 2014, Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense Practitioners have raised an incredible £1.4 million for Tommy’s charity with the passionate support of parents.

Money raised for Tommy’s helps support scientists, doctors and midwives carrying out research and running specialist clinics which turn this research into care; and allows the charity to provide online resources and a team of midwives to support parents with pregnancy queries or in need of grief support after loss.

In the past year the charity invested some £2.4m in research, recruited 4,000 parents to clinical trials, and saw the result of recent research – including a study on the use of progesterone to reduce risk of early miscarriage - shape national treatment guidelines, helping save thousands of babies’ lives.

Kath Abrahams, Tommy’s Chief Executive, said: “Words cannot express how grateful we, and all of the people your fundraising will help are, for the incredible efforts of everyone who participated in Sensathon this year. This is the most that Baby Sensory and Toddler Sense has ever raised in a single event. This is an outstanding achievement and will help make such a tremendous difference to our work to save more babies’ lives.”

Baby Sensory franchises in Angus, Wakefield and Dundee were among the highest fundraisers throughout the 2022 campaign, collectively raising over £45,000.

Tommy’s is a national charity that works tirelessly to reduce the UK’s unacceptable rates of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth. One in four pregnancies end in loss during pregnancy or birth. Tommy’s believes that every baby lost is one too many. It funds pioneering medical research to discover the causes of baby loss and helps women and people at every stage of their pregnancy journeys, supporting them and their partners with expert information and care. Tommy’s wants to make pregnancy safer for all and ensure that excellent maternity care is available for every family, every baby, everywhere.