A FORMER teacher is set to release her first book this week – and will be raising funds in memory of her friend’s stillborn baby boy in the process.

Louisa Herridge, from Woolston, will launch Time to Ignite – the Five Step Mindfulness System to Improve Your Wellbeing and Ignite Your Spark on Friday, May 21.

The 41-year-old mum recently left her job as a drama and English teacher at St Gregory’s Catholic High School in Old Hall in order to focus on her own business, having become a mindfulness coach through Mama’s Ignited.

She previously shared her story in collaborative bestseller pride, documenting her breakdown in late 2019 after escaping an abusive relationship and her subsequent recovery.

Louisa, who now lives in Paddington, was inspired by her mantra ‘an ironing board is a surfboard that gave up on its dreams and got a boring job’ in penning her own solo book.

Warrington Guardian:

Its launch will raise funds for Oscar’s Mission, which was set up by her friend Becks Jones.

The mum-of-three, from the Wirral, lost her son Oscar in 2018 after he was stillborn at the Countess of Chester Hospital only a year after her mum died.

Louisa said: “I felt empowered after writing my story of survival.

“When it was published in November 2020, the feedback I got from readers and strangers reaching out to me told me about how it had inspired them – I accepted and believed that I could inspire other women.

“I love speaking about jumping on your metaphorical surfboard, but Becks is well and truly taking action and riding her board for her son.

“She truly is a Mama Ignited with love and strength.

“It is a big deal for her, and I am so honoured that I can share Oscar’s story and say his name by raising extra funds via my book launch.”

Oscar’s Mission was set up as the baby’s legacy and raises funds for the hospital’s maternity unit.

Becks will also be paddle boarding 100km around the Wirral Peninsula over the course of three days later this month in aid of the fund.

She added: “I think Louisa’s strength, with what she has been through and now what she is achieving, is just incredible.

“This is about voice – this is about standing up for stillbirth, talking about baby loss, raising awareness about stillbirth and ultimately raising vital funds for the Countess of Chester’s maternity unit, where Oscar was born.”