PARENTS who lost their baby 35 weeks into pregnancy are raising money for the ward which helped them cope with the loss of their “perfect” little daughter.

David Naylor, 44, and wife Diane, 40, who live in Barton, were left shattered and distraught when their third daughter Avonlea Rose Jenny Naylor was stillborn on April 17.

But the Ashfield Fund at the John Radcliffe Hospital offered a bereavement suite for the couple, who have now organised a charity race tonight to raise money for the trust.

Staff at the Headington hospital helped the family create a treasured memory box to contain handprints, footprints, hand and feet casts, photos and toys to help the family through losing their child.

Mr Naylor, who works as a chef, said: “We were gearing up to have another child and at 35 weeks my wife said she wasn’t feeling right.

“We went to hospital, got a scan and the doctor told us that there was no heartbeat.

“It absolutely destroyed myself and my wife. It’s still very raw and still very difficult five months down the line .”

Mr Naylor added his daughter was “perfect” in every way when she was born and there was no reason why she passed away.

The father of daughters Ezri, 12, and Kacie, nine, said he could not have thanked the trust, based on level seven of the JR, enough for the support they gave to his family during the tragic time.

He added: “The staff helped us a lot. They gave us our own suite and helped us make a memory box.

“The box has photos, handprints, footprints, toys and other things.”

The couple said they would like to thank the continued support from midwife Kim Paul, who is based at the JR.

A fans’ forum in Middlesbrough, the team Mr Naylor supports, gave the family a shirt with baby Avonlea’s name on, which the football club paid for.

A charity race night has been organised to take place tonight in Collinwood Road Church Hall, Risinghurst, at 7.30pm.

Mr Naylor said he had raised about £1,500 worth of prizes and was hoping to achieve a similar amount on the night.

He added: “ The Ashfield Trust helped us a lot and we’d like to give something back.”

To donate to the cause, visit justgiving.com/Avonlea-Rose.