TWO women who have experienced the pain and despair of miscarriage are organising a family fun day in Yate to raise money for the charity which helped them.

Rhea Cooper and Sylvie Chriswick are holding the event at the Codrington Arms, on North Road, this Saturday, June 4 (11am-5pm) in aid of Tommy’s, which funds research to help save babies’ lives.

Rhea, 34, from Yate, had a miscarriage when she was 12 weeks’ pregnant.

“It is truly a heartbreaking emotion to lose something you loved so much, even before you got to meet that tiny being,” she said.

“I want women to know who they can reach out to in times like these.”

Rhea, who lives with husband Andy and their daughter Mila, 18 months, said the support she had received from Tommy’s was helping her to cope.

“Reading other women’s experiences has helped me understand how I am feeling and made me realise the thoughts I’ve had are normal,” she said.

“Tommy’s hope to half the number of miscarriages by 2030 and anything I can do to help raise awareness and help those women not to go through that pain when you are given those words ‘I’m sorry, there is no longer a heartbeat’ or ‘your baby doesn’t seem to be growing as it should’.

“I am very passionate about this charity.”

Sylvie, originally from France but who has lived in the UK for 28 years and the last nine in Stroud, gave up hope of ever becoming a family with her husband after 13 consecutive miscarriages. The 51-year-old said it was 'vital' to raise money for Tommy's to help more women in the future.

All are welcome to the fun day where there will be entertainment all day including a bouncy castle, toy sale, a children’s entertainer, face painting and a barbecue. Singer Katie Salt will perform and there will be a chance to meet Anna and Elsa from Disney’s Frozen.

A raffle of prizes including dinner and bed and breakfast at Tortworth Court, two-course Sunday lunch at the Gables in Falfield, a family ticket to Noah’s Ark and lunch in Tiffany’s on the pier at Weston-Super-Mare is expected to prove popular.