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.”
Denne historien er fra April 01, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra April 01, 2024-utgaven av OK! UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE PITFALLS OF AT-HOME REMEDIES
Some online health advice could be putting our wellbeing at risk
GREEK RETREATS
Relax and unwind at some of the Greek islands' best wellness destinations, offering sun, sea - and spas
Food from home
Romy Gill takes us on a journey through the ancestral kitchens of the Bengal and Punjab regions by sharing 70 of her beloved family recipes
DANCING QUEEN: 'You'd have to shovel me out of my Strictly chair'
Shirley Ballas loves her role as head judge on the hit BBC dance show and despite struggling with back pain, she won't be putting her feet up any time soon, she tells OK! in an exclusive interview
FAMILY TIME: 'I feel content and in a good place - I was so different before I became a mum'
Reality TV star Ferne McCann on motherhood, marriage and being inspired by her children
THE MATCHMAKER: 'I would pay to go on My Mum, Your Dad if I wasn't in a relationship'
As the hit ITV dating series where single parents get a second chance of finding love returns, host Davina McCall reveals why the show is such a success
REEL DRAMA: BRAD STEALS THE SHOW AT MAJOR MOVIE EVENT
A host of screen stars graced the red carpet for the 81st Venice International Film Festival
FAMILY MATTERS: 'PETE AND I GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES, BUT WE LAUGH EVERY DAY'
Presenter Abbey Clancy tells us her secret to a happy marriage and why she loves the chaos of family life
SUMMER OF LOVE: 'We just match each other perfectly'
Olympic swimmer Matthew Richards marries fiancée Emily Large in a fairytale ceremony, making it a summer that they'll never forget
LIFE, LOVE AND DUTY: QUEEN CAMILLA'S JOURNEY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Following another busy week of duties, it's clear Queen Camilla has taken to her role in the monarchy “like a duck to water\" says former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond