A YOUNG mother, who overcame a devastating double tragedy to establish a charity helping other families cope with loss, has been nominated for a national award.

In 2012, Rhian Burke’s life was changed forever, when she lost her infant son and her husband within the space of five days.

Rhian - originally from Neyland - feels the lack of support offered to her and her husband Paul after the sudden death of one-year-old George may have played a part in Paul’s tragic death less than a week later.

Motivated by a desire to make sure others would not have to bear the loss of a child on their own, the 37-year-old set up bereavement charity 2 Wish Upon A Star – which aims to ensure all hospitals in Wales have a dedicated space for families to grieve in private.

Three years on, she has been named by First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones as a finalist in the 2015 St Davids Awards, which acknowledge the extraordinary achievements of people in Wales.

Rhian said she was “humbled” to be nominated.

“It’s not really for me though, it’s for everyone who has supported me,” she said.

To date, the charity has raised almost £350,000, all from small public donations, and opened its first bereavement suite at the University Hospital Wales last year, with another scheduled to open soon at the Prince Charles Hospital.

“I felt parents needed something to feel their bereavement mattered,” said Rhian, who now lives near Cardiff, with her two children, aged six and seven.

“There was nowhere for us to say our final goodbye to George.”

The charity also provides ‘memory boxes’ to five hospitals in south Wales, which contain a camera, a hand print kit, an organza bag to keep a lock of hair, and two teddy bears - one which stays with the child, and one for mum and dad to take home.

She said small efforts such as these, coupled with a more sympathetic approach by hospital staff, made a big difference to grieving families.

“It’s the little things they say that stay forever in your memories,” she said.

Asked how her charity work has helped her cope with own her loss, Rhian said: “It saved me, if I’m honest.

“It’s restored my faith in life, seeing that there are people out there who just want to help.

“You think your life is over but the people around me have helped me keep living.

“Life will never be the same, but this experience has shown me it can be good again.”

Local nominees also include Dyfed-Powys police officers Mark Jones, Matthew Thomas and Jim Salmon - who have been praised for their bravery after risking their lives to rescue two men from a house fire in Haverfordwest in November 2013.

The officers, from Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock stations, braved dense smoke to enter the building, but became trapped inside the inferno.

PC Salmon's quick thinking saw him prise open the burning door with the aerial of his radio, allowing the three courageous officers and two casualties

to escape.

Medical officers on the scene said the residents could have died from smoke inhalation after just a few more minutes inside the building.

Award winners will be named at a ceremony - sponsored by Valero - at the Senedd in Cardiff on Thursday, March 12.

For more information visit www.stdavidawards.org.uk.