A COUPLE are raising funds for seriously ill children after the death of their baby son on New Year’s Eve.

Dawn Laycock, 33, and her partner Richard Hindle, 36, from Rishton, want to help other parents after they tragically lost six-month-old Lincoln.

For the first weeks of Lincoln’s life, there were few signs anything was wrong.

However, the couple embarked on a rollercoaster of emotions after he was diagnosed with a rare heart and lung disease when he was just four weeks old.

Dawn said it was the attention, and help, they received at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital which enabled a peaceful, and comfortable, end for her beautiful baby.

She said: “Lincoln’s big eyes and cheeky smile charmed all who met him. He fought for his life every day, and was beyond brave. He smiled his way through it.

“If it wasn’t for Alder Hey, and the equipment and skills they provided, Lincoln would possibly not have lived as long as he did.

“His death would have been likely to have been a painful and distressing one.

“Alder Hey made everything comfortable and calm, and Lincoln passed away without any pain, or distress, in my arms.”

Lincoln had appeared to have some breathing difficulties and Dawn and Richard’s health visitor advised taking him to Royal Blackburn Hospital, who referred him to Alder Hey.

At a month old, Lincoln was diagnosed with pulmonary hyper- tension, which included holes in his heart, and fluid in the lungs.

Dawn, an auxiliary nurse at Royal Preston Hospital, said: “His condition was untreatable and incurable. However, Alder Hey supported his life as best as they could with high-tech equip- ment, medicines, and except-ional nursing and doctor care.”

The couple, and their family and friends, are now launching a bid to raise cash for Alder Hey Children’s Charity, in Lincoln’s memory.

Their supporters have already raised £2,000 for sister charity Ronald McDonald House, which provides living accommodation for parents using Alder Hey.

Dawn said: “This is just an amazing facility. Every day when our son fell asleep we could just walk over to the house, use the kitchen to make a meal, and sleep in a real bed.

“It also meant we had a direct phone line with the hospital if anything happened.”

Dawn and Richard are now aiming to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Charity to en-sure other babies, and children, have the essential equipment they require to support their lives.

They are currently arranging a sponsored run, sponsored football match, and race night.

To help visit www.justgiving.com/lord-lincoln