A FAMILY fun day inspired by the memory of a baby girl who was born with severe heart defects is being held this weekend to help other “heart families”.

Lagan’s Foundation is staging Party in the Park featuring a Rubber Duck Derby in Burrs Country Park.

It is the biggest family fundraiser staged by the foundation, set up in memory of Lagan Katherine Anne Grant, daughter of Carren Bell — a former Derby High School pupil — and Barry Grant.

She lost her fight against a heart condition when she was only 15-weeks-old on April 26 in 2011.

Lagan’s Foundation is the UK’s only charity dedicated to providing help to parents in their own homes, whose babies are born with congenital heart defects (CHD) and/or have feeding difficulties.

Today, the charity, which is fully funded by donations and is run by volunteers, helps families across the UK.

And families and visitors who go to Burrs Country Park on Sunday will be in for a day of fun and entertainment which will raise money to help train volunteers to support families practically and emotionally at home, as well as establish a hospital liaison service.

Attractions on the day include a duck race, which will be on youtube — complete with a duck cam.

The ducks will be released by a representative of Sainsbury’s in Oxford Road, Manchester, which has adopted the foundation as its charity of the year.

There will also be games such as a coconut shy, fairground rides, climbing wall and a variety of stalls.

Refreshments will include Spanish food and South African fudge.

Miss Bell, who has two other children Ceridwen, aged 11, and son Lochlyn, aged 17 months said: “We have lots going on and the rubber ducky race will take part in stretch of the river, rather than a brook, to give it a quirky edge.

“We wanted to organise a family fun day to reach more people who are in need of support, and to show the numbers of families we support and that CHD is not a rare condition.

“We want families in Bury to know that there is support available to them.”

She added: “It is thanks to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for letting us have Lagan in our family for a magical 15 weeks.

“We are now here for every other heart family and want to share our love and care so that other families no longer feel alone.”

Miss Bell, who moved from Bradley Fold to Horwich where she now lives with her family and partner Mr Grant, added: “Lagan’s Foundation is our way of keeping Lagan’s memory alive. Every day is difficult and it never gets any easier. We just carry on knowing we can help.”

The fun starts at 11am and runs until 5.30pm.

To race a rubber ducky as a family or as a business and for more information: visit lagans.org.uk/ get-involved/events/ family/party-in-the-park