Amelia’s Treasure Quest

A family is honouring the memory of their daughter with the launch of a community fundraiser to raise awareness of baby loss and vital funds for charity.

Amelia’s Treasure Quest, organised by Cora-Leigh Thompson and her husband Matt, officially set sail last Saturday, with a fun-filled pirate-themed event at McDonald’s in Nairn.

The fundraiser commemorates five years since the loss of their daughter, Amelia, who passed away in 2020 due to two rare medical conditions.

The event was a celebration of Amelia’s life and a gesture of gratitude to the community and Held In Our Hearts, a charity that provides counselling and peer support for families affected by baby loss.

All proceeds from the treasure hunt and its accompanying raffle will go to the charity, which has been a huge support to Cora during the most difficult moments of her grieving process.

She said: “I just want to get word out there for the charity, and recognise all the babies that haven’t been able to stay”.

Saturday’s launch event was a joyous occasion that kicked off Amelia’s Treasure Quest, a community treasure hunt running throughout the summer holidays until Monday, August 19.

The event was a resounding success, raising an incredible £455.56 for the charity. Sponsored by Kinwell Pharmacy, the treasure hunt encourages families to explore Nairn together in a fun and meaningful way – all while supporting a cause close to the Thompsons’ hearts.

“I’ve always been worried about doing a fundraiser, and not doing well enough for Amelia,” Cora said. “But it was so nice to see everybody come together – a lot of friends, nursing friends, and their parents came to support it. It’s really nice having the community come together for something like that.”

The launch was packed with fun, featuring pirate costumes, beloved mascots like Peppa Pig and Kevin the Minion, and activities including ‘Sponge the Pirate,’ a teddy raffle and a tombola. Cora said: “It was a good community spirit, and lots of laughs to be had. Both the kids and the adults enjoyed it”

“We had one person who bought quite a few Tombola tickets, and he won both of the main prizes – he was delighted! He said he’d never won anything on any raffles, and he had to do three trips to the car with all of his winnings.”

Cora and Matt’s loss came at 23+3 weeks, following what had been a healthy pregnancy until complications arose at 21 weeks.

Amelia was born on March 1, 2020, and would have celebrated her fifth birthday this year. Though their grief remains, the Thompsons – now parents to three-year-old Benjamin and one-year-old Hope – are channelling their love for Amelia into positive action and support for others.

Cora only reached out to Held In Our Hearts last year, initially feeling she might be “too far into the grieving process” to seek help. There, she was paired with her peer support, Lindsay, who also joined the treasure hunt launch event.

“I don’t think I would have gotten through the tail end of last year had I not been put in contact with her,” Cora said. “Just having somebody to talk to with no judgment about how you’re feeling can be a huge help.”

The treasure hunt and raffle will continue throughout the summer holidays, offering an opportunity for more families to take part, have fun and help raise awareness about baby loss. Cora explained: “I wanted to do a little something extra for her fifth birthday, and for Held in Our Hearts. I just thought, that’s the best charity that I can support at the moment”

Community generosity hasn’t stopped since the launch, and donations have continued to pour in, including £800 from Haventus in Ardersier, and £500 donated directly through JustGiving – with £300 specifically allocated for the hunt and raffle prizes.

Those wishing to join Amelia’s Treasure Quest or support the cause can find updates and information on the event’s https://www.facebook.com/groups/1045411694110611. Donations can also be made via the JustGiving page.https://www.justgiving.com/page/cora-thompson-3

 First published byThe Inverness Courier
Lauren Cameron – lauren.cameron@hnmedia.co.uk  Published: 06:00, 11 July 2025

Nairn family launches Amelia’s Treasure Quest fundraiser in memory of daughter to support baby loss charity Held In Our Hearts