Shirley Gittoes

Though I was born in Somerset, as soon as I was old enough I put down my permanent roots in Wales. Where I met and eventually married my best friend Tim in October 1999.

In January 2001 our first born, and only daughter was born stillborn.

We have continued and had two living sons, after many miscarriages. Charlie born in 2002 and Joe was born in 2004. When Joe was born he was extremely poorly and at one point history tried to repeat itself. Thankfully Joe was and still is a fighter. It was because of Joe that I got involved with Sands. I realized I couldn’t go through another child death ‘on my own’ and was determined to try and help others in our rural area.

So since then I have been trying to do small things to help. I organized our first sponsored walk and balloon release in 2005 and then in February 2006 we opened the doors to our first meeting of Powys Sands. Since then we have gone from strength to strength.

In September 2006 I was very proud to take on the role of Sands Welsh Network Convenor and being able to support and communicate with all the support groups in Wales.

I became a co-opted trustee in 2007 and was voted in as a trustee by members in October 2007.

I have been able to do everything with the constant support of both Tim and my boys who are always giving me ideas for ‘things we can do’ , but I am here because of our daughter and Charlie & Joe’s big sister.

My quiet time hobbies are cross stitch and reading, that’s when I get some quiet time.