Simon Gregson has pleaded with fans to "raise as much money as possible" for a bereavement suite at a hospital.

Simon Gregson

Simon Gregson

The 'Coronation Street' actor has taken to Twitter to ask fans to help support a couple, Ben Moorhouse and Gaynor Thompson, who have set up a Crowdfunding page (www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/krm2019) to raise money for the creation of a new maternity bereavement suite at Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, following the stillbirth of their daughter, Kallipateira Rodothea Moorhouse, at 38 weeks of pregnancy.

Speaking on a video via Twitter, he said: "Hi. My name is Simon Gregson and I have a short message for you about Ben and Gaynor.

"Ben and Gaynor's little girl was born sleeping at 38 weeks in October, their love for her is endless and what they're doing for stillbirth awareness so soon is amazing and really inspirational, and I ask everyone to please support them and help raise as much money as possible please for the new suite in Calderdale hospital."

Simon has asked fans to donate to the Crowdfunding page, which has raised £7,987 of the £15,000 target at the time of writing, following his storyline with Kym Marsh last year on the ITV soap, in which their characters Steve McDonald and Michelle Connor's son Ruairi was born prematurely at just 23 weeks and sadly died.

The plot saw Michelle struggle to cope with the tot's death, while Steve tried to conceal his grief and keep his true emotions hidden.

Kym tragically lost her own baby boy, Archie - who died within moments of being born in February 2009 - 10 years ago, and she celebrated his life at a family event last month.

She recently said: "I can't believe it was a decade ago.

"I think about him every day but on his 10-year anniversary we're going to celebrate his life - however short that may have been - by having a family get together at my house.

"It's going to be an extremely emotional day, and there will obviously be tears.

"But it's better for us to remember him and feel happy that he was here, than being overwhelmed by sadness because he's not.

"I'm not saying we won't cry, I'll be absolutely heartbroken for most of the day. But it will be nice to be together as a family, remember him in a loving, compassion way.

"We're also planting a tree in his memory in my parents' garden."

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