Friends of Frankie – our new Charity of the Year

Please note this article contains reference to the death of a young child, which may be difficult for some readers.

At Financial Wellness Group we’re passionate about giving back to our community and beyond. Over the last 16 years our colleagues have raised over a million pounds for charity.

Beginning this month, every year we’re going to support a charity chosen by our colleagues. And this year’s Charity of the Year, nominated by our colleagues Jackie and Christie and voted on by the whole Financial Wellness Group team, is Friends of Frankie.

Frankie sadly passed away in his sleep at the age of three.

Since then his parents, family and friends have been raising money for Friends of Frankie, which they set up in his name. They’re in the process of registering Friends of Frankie with the Charity Commission, so for now the money we raise will be donated directly to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood UK (SUDC UK), which is a registered charity.

Frankie’s mum, Sarah, said:

“I feel so overwhelmed that you have voted to support us this year. We set up Friends of Frankie in the aftermath of losing Frankie in May 2019. Our beautiful, happy, healthy son was 3 years old when he was put to bed, only to be found unresponsive in bed the next morning.

“Our mission is to raise money and awareness for SUDC UK. They fund research into these tragedies in the hope that one day they will be predictable and preventable. I know that Frankie’s legacy is to save other children and by funding this vital research I know that children like him will be able to stay here longer in the future. By supporting this work, you are helping to make Frankie’s legacy a reality and for that, thank you does not seem enough.”

SUDC UK was set up by three beareaved mums, to support other families going through the trauma of losing a child and to fund research into why some kids die without warning or apparent illness – and, of course, how to prevent it.

Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is the sudden death of a child, between 1 and 18 years of age, which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted. Fortunately, SUDC is rare and its incidence is approximately 1 death per 100,000 children. That’s roughtly 40 each year in England and Wales: more young childhood deaths than those due to traffic accidents, fires or drowning. SUDC is one of the leading causes of death for toddlers (ages 1-4).

Jacqui commented:

“The death of a child is not something you would ever expect to happen to someone you know. Frankie attended my children’s birthday parties, we all went on days out together and he was a big part of our lives even for the short period of time that he was with us. For him to no longer be here just doesn’t seem right. Sarah and James (Frankie’s Mummy & Daddy) continue to raise as much as they can for SUDC in the hope that this will someday be predicable and preventable.

“Thank you to everyone that took the time to vote. I am so grateful that Friends of Frankie (SUDC) has been chosen as the FWG Charity Of The Year.”

Christie added:

“I first heard about Friends of Frankie through my colleague and friend Jacqui, after her best friend’s son Frankie passed away. To say I was touched by his story is an understatement. How could I not be? Especially as mother to a little boy myself.

“My son has just celebrated his 3rd birthday and so Frankie’s story resonates with me more than ever. I have no idea how Frankie’s parents found the strength to get out of bed everyday after they lost their little boy, but thank god they did, because the charity now raises money to support SUDC UK in the hope that in time, it can be predictable and preventable.

“I hope that I and nobody that I know ever has to experience the pain that Frankie’s mummy and daddy have: that’s why I want to help their fund raising efforts in any way that I can.”