Maddy’s Mark: The charity founded in memory of UWE rugby player Maddy Lawrence

Maddy Lawrence, 20, died from an infection in Southmead Hospital in Bristol, two weeks after dislocating her hip in a University of the West of England rugby match in March 2022.

Her parents, Karen and Simon Lawrence, set up a charity called ‘Maddy’s Mark’, in her honour, to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in young women through rugby.

Ms Lawrence said: “It doesn’t take anything away from our sorrow at not having Maddy here, but it does give us a positive thing to go forward with, for her, and in doing that, it keeps her name alive.”

Mr and Ms Lawrence said their daughter would have been “proud” to see her, mark on the world” with the success of the charity.
Over £100,000 has been raised in the three years since the charity was established, and it has since extended its reach across England.

Maddy’s Mark has also partnered with Gloucester Rugby Charitable Foundation to launch a new programme called Maddy’s Captains to offer six weeks of training and classes to girls.

“She was a very special girl, and she really looked out for people, she was brave, she was graceful, and she had so many wonderful qualities, but she also looked out for people and she loved helping.” Mr Lawrence said, with Ms Lawrence adding that: “I think she’d find it really hard to believe that all of this was for her, in her name.”

A coroner at an inquest held in 2023 concluded her death at Southmead Hospital on 25 March 2022 was contributed to by neglect.

A medical system called News- a national early warning score- should have indicated any deterioration or condition like sepsis, the inquest heard.

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However, the coroner found her deterioration was “not recognised” and life-saving treatment was not commenced promptly.” North Bristol NHS Trust Chief Medical Officer Tim Whittlestone acknowledged “the omissions in her care.”

Maddy’s parents also released all her medical data to allow medical staff to learn from the experience and implement training to prevent it from happening to another patient.

Feedback from staff has been positive, with some describing it as “some of the best” training they have ever had.

“If you see two grieving parents, actually explaining why we’re doing this… maybe it gave us a chance to save a few people,” Mr Lawrence said.

All images via Facebook