A MUM from Yate has been celebrated by Southmead Hospital for raising nearly £15,000 after her newborn daughter was cared for there before she died.

A plaque has been put up to recognise the work of Lisa Carpenter and supporters at Yasmin’s Fun Dance and finance software provider Sword Apak, who have raised £14,800 since 2008 in memory of daughter Yasmin, who was born at 37 weeks.

Yasmin was born in 2002 with the rare genetic condition Trisomy 13, which results in a heart defect and other health complications, and died four days later in the NICU.

Lisa founded Yasmin’s Fun Dance, fundraising through dance shows and other events to raise £7,400, which has now been matched by the business, her employer of 20 years.

Lisa, her three children, and colleagues Mika Curtis and Nikki Fitzell all visited NICU this week to see the plaque put up in the corridor that leads to the NICU.

She said: “I have always danced right up until I was pregnant with Yasmin and a few years after her death I felt I wanted to start a group up in her memory.

“It means everything to me to be able to give back to everyone who supported us in the hospital and at Yasmin’s Fun Dance.

“Lots of people come to our dance shows because they too want to support NICU and they are very generous.

“What has really touched me is having the support of Sword Apak which has meant that we could double our fundraising and be awarded this recognition plaque, we couldn’t have done it without them.”

Yasmin’s Fun Dance, based in Chipping Sodbury, teaches children to have fun with music and is led by Lisa, Debbie Rees and Jackie Youell.

Mika Curtis, Chair of the Sword Apak charity team (ACT), said: “Lisa’s story is a very courageous and strong example of overcoming hardship, turning a tragedy into something really beautiful and empowering in honour of her daughter, Yasmin.

“It has been eye-opening to come to NICU and hear and see more about the fantastic work that is done by Southmead Hospital Charity and NICU and see the difference that you can make.”

Gill Taylor, NICU matron, said: “We are so grateful for the fantastic fundraising that Lisa, Yasmin’s Fun Dance and Sword Apak have done for us.

“It is wonderful to receive such great support from our communities and it really makes a difference to the parents and babies on the NICU now and in the future.”