People who have been affected by the loss of a baby or a child are being encouraged to gather on the green opposite St Helier Hospital this weekend.

There will be a minute’s silence and commemorative event on Sunday (October 14).

And, as the sun sets for the evening, the building will be “transformed into a sea of lights” which aim to enable families and people to remember those they’ve lost.

The minute’s silence will be at 7pm and marked by the ringing of a bell.

It’s a free event to attend, however, donations to the Epsom and St Helier Hospitals Charity are welcome while money raised will go to their maternity departments.

It was first held last year to raise money for Bearing Hope, started by Hollie Perry and Scott Eyre who raised £20,000 to overhaul a bereavement room in the maternity department at St Helier.

That was after they lost their daughter, Hope, in 2016.

READ MORE: Couple give St Helier Hospital room a £20,000 makeover

Your Local Guardian: Photo: Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Scott Eyre and Hollie Perry. Photo: Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Hollie said: “After Hope arrived, we were given a cold cot [a cot that cools the baby and prolongs the amount of time parents can spend with their child] and were able to spend a night and day with her in the single bereavement room. We knew that we had to cram in a lifetime of memories into just a few precious hours, and we will both remember the time we spent in that room for the rest of our lives.

“You know that there won’t be any more bedtime stories, no singing happy birthday to her as she grows up, and so every moment in the bereavement room meant so much to us.”

She praised staff at St Helier, describing them as “incredible”, and added “I couldn’t have asked for anything more from them”.

But it was after believing the bereavement room could be improved that both she and Scott raised £20,000 to refurbish it.

Hospital staff members and representatives will be holding fundraising buckets on the night while a display will be projected onto the front of the hospital until 10pm.

Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Last year’s Bearing Hope baby loss awareness event was a very touching evening, and as hundreds of local people gathered to remember their young loved ones, the strength of feeling was evident.

“I know that nothing will take away the grief of losing a child or baby, but I am pleased that we are able to offer our communities the chance to join together and take a few moments to reflect and remember.

“Every penny raised on the evening will go to our maternity departments, so if you can spare some change, please do donate. You can also donate online."