A BARRHEAD mum has raised more than £1,500 to help families affected by cot death after losing her 10 month old daughter.

Bobby McKay, 23, hosted a fundraiser on April 16, close to what would have been daughter Casey’s fifth birthday.

The former Barrhead High School pupil decided to raise the funds in memory of her daughter, who died in her crib due to a rare occurrence known as sudden death syndrome.

Casey passed away on February 16, 2012, and as well as the support of her large group of family and friends, Casey says the support of the Scottish Cot Death Trust was invaluable – especially after she had her second daughter Jessica, who is now two years old.

Now she is encouraging other families affected by cot death to get in contact with the Scottish Cot Death Trust, and has handed over a cheque worth £1,524 to the organisation.

Bobby said: “We really wanted to do something that would honour Casey’s memory, and help other families who have to go through it.

“Casey would have been starting school this year, and it would have been her fifth birthday just before we held the fundraiser.”

Casey’s memory is alive and well in the family, and despite never having met her older sister, little Jessica still talks about her older sister.

Bobby added: “Jessica was always asking if she could come to the fundraiser and if she would see her big sister there.”

The fundraiser was held in the Roundabout Bar on Dovecothall Street in Barrhead.

Through a raffle and games they managed to raise the fantastic amount, bringing the total raised by Bobby and her family up to more than £3,000.

As well as offering emotional support and advice, the trust also helped to give Bobby peace of mind when she had her second daughter Jessica.

She said: “When I had Jessica they were still in touch with me and they gave me a monitor.

“She would wear this in the cot and it could sense her vitals and it would sound an alarm if it detected anything wrong.

“We also got first aid training for babies through the red cross.

“Their support really helped me have peace of mind with Jessica.

“I don’t think anything could have helped with Casey’s death – but their support after what happened was brilliant.

I would just like to thank everyone who helped with the fundraising.

“Local businesses were fantastic, as were Celtic, Rangers and St Mirren who all donated prizes.”