TWO mums who have been through the agony of losing a daughter are raising cash for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital.

Best friends and small business partners Katie Henderson and Dione Fox have already held fundraising events for Addenbrooke’s and Colchester General hospitals’ children’s wards. Now they hope to raise funds for the London hospital with a sell-out pamper party next month.

Mrs Henderson knows first-hand the amazing work the hospital does because it looked after her eldest daughter Aimee, who died aged two having been born with the genetic condition Cockayne syndrome.

Children born with the syndrome reach a limited level of development before regressing, and rarely live beyond five.

Mrs Henderson, who is also mum to Lucie, four, and one-year-old Neave, said: “We knew something was wrong when she got to seven weeks, and was not smiling or doing the normal things.

“She had a lot of treatment in Colchester and then at Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge and Great Ormond Street, and we wanted to do something to help them out.”

Mrs Henderson and Mrs Fox, who both live in Old Heath, Colchester, launched Heavenly Gems in November.

They run it in the evenings, hosting two or three parties a week selling shabby chic homeware and gifts.

Mrs Fox’s baby, Poppy, was stillborn at 36 weeks last July.

Mrs Henderson added: “Dione was Aimee’s godmother and I was going to be Poppy’s. They know now she contracted a virus, and that is why she was stillborn.”

Mrs Fox also has daughters Ella, seven, and Mollie, four.

Ella has been receiving treatment at Great Ormond Street for a kidney condition.

Mrs Fox said: “Our latest event is a ladies’ pamper evening. There will be various treatments available, ranging from manicures to reflexology. Women will have the chance to relax, be pampered and to browse Heavenly Gems and other products. There will be a raffle. Both Katie and I thought that the prizes should be suitable for women to enjoy.

“Donations have already been received in the form of flowers and skin products.

“We have also received a generous donation from Red Plant Sales.”