Fifteen years is a long time to carry Archie's ashes around'

Actress and ambassador Kym Marsh, who hosted the annual Mariposa Trust charity ball earlier this month, opens up on losing her son Archie, and celebrates a change in the law that allows parents of babies born too soon to have their loss recognised

- BETH NEIL

Host Kym Marsh knew it was going to be an evening of high emotion. The annual Mariposa Ball, held to honour the country’s baby bereavement heroes, is a cause close to her heart and always a deeply moving event.

But this year’s ceremony, proudly partnered by OK!, felt particularly poignant because, thanks to a recent change in the law meaning parents who lose a child before 24 weeks can now have their grief recognised with a baby loss certificate, there was a real reason to celebrate.

The government review came after almost a decade of tireless campaigning by Mariposa Trust founders and CEOs Andy and Zoe Clark-Coates MBE, with support from long-term ambassador Kym, whose baby boy Archie died moments after he was born 18 weeks prematurely in 2009.

The charity provides vital support to families affected by baby loss, and Waterloo Road star Kym said news of the historic victory meant the energy in the ballroom at London’s luxury Landmark hotel was palpable.

“There was a real buzz in the air,” says Kym, who hosted the glamorous do earlier this month.

“The Mariposa Ball is always a gorgeous event, very heartfelt and with lots of people there for a reason and sharing their stories. Whether they’re bereaved parents or doctors or midwives, everyone is there because they care.

“But this year was bigger and better than ever – there was something different about the atmosphere and that’s because we felt like we’d won something. We were all very celebratory.”