Want to join me in making a difference? I’m raising money to benefit You've Got A Friend In Us, and any donation will help make an impact. Thanks in advance for your contribution to this cause!

Their Story:

We are two families brought together unfortunately through devastating loss and circumstance.

The Mitten Family & The Doran Family both tragically lost their young children in 2022. Brandon Mitten was just 15 months old when, Laura (Mammy) and Ciaran (Daddy) lost him. Ada Maria was just 19 months old when Laura (Mammy) & Aaron (Daddy) lost her.

Both children were lost to SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death of a Child). This is the outcome when all avenues of investigation have been carried out by medical professionals but no cause of death can be found.

At present, this affects between 2-4 children per year within the age group of 1-4 years. There is currently little to no research being carried out to help understand or prevent this happening in the future to other children and families.

There is also very little support from the Government of Ireland or Irish Charities to help families who have been affected by SUDC.

You've Got a Friend in Us is a newly established Charity association set up by The Doran & Mitten Families, to help support and bring together families affected by SUDC in Ireland.

Our goal is to support parents and families by bringing them together in a situation that feels extremely lonely. We will also aim to help parents and families with additional counselling, grief retreats, the supply of Owlet Monitors for families who need them and offer a place where families can feel safe, supported and cared for on their journey. In essence, we want to offer community support when there is none.

We also hope to work together with First Light, CRY, hospitals and social workers in the future to provide a more rounded support system for parents and families means so much to me.