OWNERS of a new children’s bookshop were inspired by personal tragedy to back a charity for bereaved parents.

Claire and Neill Curran, who have just opened Happy Cow Books at Holmfirth, are running a competition in support of the Joseph Salmon Trust.

They are inviting children to draw pictures and write reviews for books bought from the shop at Norridge Bottom – and donate £1 to the charity.

The trust provides financial support with funeral and related costs for parents who have lost children.

Mr and Mrs Curran, of Meltham, wanted to help the charity after seeing an article in the Examiner.

They lost their daughter, Jenna, in 2002. She was just four days old when she died from an extremely rare genetic condition.

Mrs Curran, 34, said: “We had had a very healthy baby, were full of expectations and then suddenly she was gone.

“You never think it will happen to you.

“We were lucky because we had a network of people to give us emotional and financial support. Not everyone is that lucky.”

The Joseph Salmon Trust was set up by Marsh couple Neil and Rachael Salmon following the sudden death of their three-year-old son on April 1, 2005. He had streptococcal pneumonia, an infection and inflammation of the lungs.

Mrs Curran, who gave birth to her second daughter, Niamh, about a year after Jenna’s death, said the trust was unique.

She said: “The work they do is amazing.

“There are places around that provide emotional support and counselling and that’s great, but there isn’t anything else to help people if they are struggling financially.

“Even if it’s just to give them the opportunity to get away for a bit and get their heads together, that’s brilliant.

“We felt if we could help people who are in the same position as us, perhaps our little girl didn’t die in vain.”