Captain Tom's mammoth fundraising efforts have helped a mid Wales business support lockdown babies and mums.
Heather Lewis, a health visitor at Powys Teaching Health Board, applied for a grant from the 100-year-old war veteran's fund to provide something special for Powys' newest residents.
The idea was to gift each family with a bottle of baby massage oil, handmade by Jo Ordoñez of Earthbound Organics, an organic skincare company based in Dolau near Llandrindod Wells.
Jo said: “I was thrilled when Heather asked me to get involved with this project – it’s one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done with Earthbound Organics. The thought of all those babies being cared for with my handmade oil, and the mothers and key workers enjoying my hand creams, has really cheered me up after a long lockdown.”
While the coronavirus pandemic swept the nation 315 babies were born in the county during the lockdown earlier this year.
Many of the lockdown babies and their mothers weren’t allowed physical contact with other extended family members, friends, or health visitors, adding further stress to an already distressing time.
The grant application was successful, and the six-week project began. Jo, with some help from her three-year-old granddaughter, harvested fresh calendula and chamomile from her farm, which she then made into this special Baby’s Massage Oil.
The grant also provided enough money to gift the mothers, and the health visitors supporting them, with a pot each of organic hand cream, which Jo made from locally-grown lavender and comfrey.
It is hoped that these products will provide some much-needed comfort to the newborns and their parents. The benefits of baby massage are well-documented, boosting a baby’s serotonin and oxytocin levels, and also calming their central nervous system.
Second World War veteran and NHS fundraiser Captain Tom Moore was knighted by the Queen in July.
The 100-year-old raised almost £33 million for health service charities by walking laps of his Bedfordshire garden.
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