Laura’s Loaf: remembering a colleague and supporting children, one loaf at a time

Staff know exactly what it means, a chance to remember a much-loved colleague, and to support Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity in her name.

Laura was an occupational therapist who worked at Ryegate for 14 years, supporting autistic children, young people with ADHD, and those with coordination and sensory needs. She was known for her compassion, creativity and unwavering belief in doing the right thing for children and families.

In May 2022, Laura was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. Throughout her treatment, she was supported by colleagues who were also close friends, a small group who affectionately called themselves her “wing women”.

During chemotherapy, Laura struggled with nausea and digestive issues. One small thing helped: sourdough bread. Gentle, simple and nourishing, it became something she could enjoy after treatment, often shared with her young son, who also had dietary intolerances.

So, every week, Jenny, one of Laura’s colleagues, baked her a loaf.

What began as a practical gesture quickly became something much more. In a time that felt overwhelming and uncertain, the bread was one thing that could be done - a small act of care when everything else felt out of their control.

Laura died in November 2024, aged 44. In the months that followed, her colleagues found themselves navigating their own grief, while continuing to care for children and families every day.

And yet, the bread continued.

Rather than stopping, Jenny decided to keep baking - inviting colleagues, neighbours and friends to donate in exchange for a loaf, raising money in Laura’s memory. They called it Laura’s Loaf.

Over the following year, more than 100 loaves were baked. People donated not just for the bread, but because it gave them a way to remember Laura, to share stories, and to feel connected.

Loaves were dropped on doorsteps early in the morning. Messages arrived saying, “I’m eating this and thinking about Laura.” Local suppliers donated flour. Neighbours stopped to talk. Simple moments became meaningful ones.

“It was never really about the bread,” said Jenny Featherstone, who leads the community physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams at Ryegate. “It gave people a way to remember Laura, and a way to do something when they didn’t know what else to do.”

In 2026 - the 150th anniversary year of Sheffield Children’s - Laura’s Loaf began raising funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, supporting the Ryegate Therapy Block where Laura worked.

Charity funding helps make extra services possible that go beyond core provision, from sensory and motor skills groups to therapeutic support for autistic teenagers and their families. It pays for specialist expertise, safe spaces and opportunities for young people to feel understood and supported.

“Laura helped shape the services we deliver,” Jenny said. “Supporting the therapy block feels like continuing her work.”

Each week, three loaves are baked, with a suggested minimum donation of £1.50 - a small, accessible amount that reflects the simplicity at the heart of Laura’s Loaf. Staff stop in the kitchen, leave a donation and take a loaf home. The kitchen smells good. Conversations happen. Laura is remembered.

“Sourdough is just flour, water and salt,” Jenny said. “But when you’re grieving, something simple can carry a lot of meaning. It’s amazing what a loaf of bread can hold.”

Through Laura’s Loaf, Laura’s kindness lives on, supporting children, families and colleagues, one loaf at a time.

If you'd like to organise your own fundraiser, get in touch with our team on [email protected] and we'll be happy to support you.