Devonshire Terrace, London played host on Sunday 4th October 2009 to the first annual Doula of the Year Award presented by Doula advocate and supporter, former US Chat Show Host, Ricki Lake.
Kicki Hansard, nominated by Alison Sarah, was chosen from over ninety entries submitted to Pregnancy & Birth magazine, to be our first Doula of the Year. To read the winning story, please click here.
Award judge, Ellie Hughes, Editor of Pregnancy & Birth Magazine said ‘It was a moving experience reading all the entries, underlining the importance of the work Doulas do’ and also how hard it had been to choose a winner.
Alison, who nominated Kicki for the award was asked to join her on stage for her acceptance. She gave a moving speech on what an asset Kicki had been before, during and after her birth.
Kicki was thrilled and surprised and said that she now needed a Doula to help her breathe!
We were entertained by speakers, Dianne Garland - Water Birth guru, Patrick Houser – Fathers-to-Be, Janey Lee Grace of Radio 2 and our MC Jane Garvey of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, before watching the film ‘A Doula for Everyone’, about our Hardship Fund.
After a delicious Brunch, James McQuillan from the BBC’s The Apprentice gave a very male and thoroughly entertaining account of his brushes with birth and then dealt with the Raffle and an Auction – raising £1500 for the Fund!
A highlight for all was hearing Ricki Lake talk about her experiences of birth and filming The Business of Being Born, her own exploration of childbirth and her advocacy for a woman’s right to choice.
Kicki Hansard, nominated by Alison Sarah, was chosen from over ninety entries submitted to Pregnancy & Birth magazine, to be our first Doula of the Year. To read the winning story, please click here.
Award judge, Ellie Hughes, Editor of Pregnancy & Birth Magazine said ‘It was a moving experience reading all the entries, underlining the importance of the work Doulas do’ and also how hard it had been to choose a winner.
Alison, who nominated Kicki for the award was asked to join her on stage for her acceptance. She gave a moving speech on what an asset Kicki had been before, during and after her birth.
Kicki was thrilled and surprised and said that she now needed a Doula to help her breathe!
We were entertained by speakers, Dianne Garland - Water Birth guru, Patrick Houser – Fathers-to-Be, Janey Lee Grace of Radio 2 and our MC Jane Garvey of Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, before watching the film ‘A Doula for Everyone’, about our Hardship Fund.
After a delicious Brunch, James McQuillan from the BBC’s The Apprentice gave a very male and thoroughly entertaining account of his brushes with birth and then dealt with the Raffle and an Auction – raising £1500 for the Fund!
A highlight for all was hearing Ricki Lake talk about her experiences of birth and filming The Business of Being Born, her own exploration of childbirth and her advocacy for a woman’s right to choice.
