The Isabel Baker Foundation

The Isabel Baker Foundation was set up in memory of Isabel Baker who passed away from Infantile Acute Lymphoblastic Leukeamia eight days after her first birthday in 2015, after being diagnosed at 3 weeks old.

Having spent a lot of her life in hospital, Isabel fought long and hard, for over a year before peacefully passing away at Gullys Place, Poole Hospital.

Isabel taught us so much in her short life. She lived every day with courage and bravery. She always smiled no matter how awful she was feeling from the side effects of her treatment. She fought everyday to live and we will forever remember the lessons she left with us.

After Isabel passed away, we quickly realised how little financial support there was for bereaved parents and so we launched The Isabel Baker Foundation to provide grants for funeral and headstone costs, as well as bills to allow parents more time off work to grieve (parents were expected to return to work up to 8 weeks after their child has passed away at the time of Isabels death)

In 2016, we donated £886.00 to Bloodwise to complete their reseach project 'Understanding the foetal origins of infant and childhood leukaemia' by Dr Andi Roy

A lot has changed since then. In 2018 we went to parliament to support Carolyn Harris MPs Children's Funeral Fund Campaign! This was a success and implemented in 2019, meaning that all funerals are now free for children. We will of course still help with any extra costs that a family cannot afford.

When a child dies, a funeral is the last thing their parent can ever do for them. They will never go to prom, get married or have children. We are passionate about making sure families are able to have the day that they want.

Later in 2018, we also went on to win Arthur J Gallaghers first ever 'Making A Difference' Award, along with a £25,000 cheque.

Fast forward to 2020 and the charity has gone from strength to strength, we have raised over £200,000 and helped over 500 families. 

Our next venture is to purchase 'Isabels Retreat'. A holiday home, to be used by families of sick and / or terminally ill children, for free. It will be accessible all year round enabling us to offer as many families as possible the oppourtuinity to enjoy it.