Team Sands to run London Marathon in memory of babies who have died
ON 26 April 2015, 45 people, all of
whom have been affected by the death of a baby, will be pounding the streets of
the capital in the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon. Sands, the
stillbirth and neonatal death charity, works to support bereaved families and
improve the care they receive as well as fund vital research to prevent more
families suffering the loss of their precious baby. To do this they rely on the
generosity of fundraisers and supporters to continue their vital work.
Stillbirth and neonatal death are not rare events. In 2013 over 5700 babies died
before, during or soon after birth, that's 110 babies every week. It's a tragedy
that can happen to anyone and at anytime. It's devastating not just for parents,
but also for grandparents, siblings, other children, aunts and uncles, friends,
work colleagues and health professionals such as midwives who have cared for
parents and babies that have died. Team Sands will see runners from all walks of
life take on this 26.2 mile run and they expect to raise around £50,000
collectively. Dan Hubbard's 1st baby daughter Isabel died 1 hour after
birth, following complications in the final stages of labour, in October 2009.
Dan, a Group Energy Manager from Southport, and his wife Katie have already
raised over £6,000 for Sands by completing various other half marathons and 10k
events since Isabel's death. And now Dan is taking his biggest challenge so far.
He said:- "To say our world was turned upside down would be an
understatement. We spent months of caring and talking to our little 'bump',
preparing the nursery, planning and dreaming about our future as a family. And
at the end of it all, we had to go home without our beautiful baby girl. Nothing
can prepare you for that. Following Isabel's death we discovered Sands. They
provided incredible support to us and our family. Running and raising money for
Sands provided a real focus and a form of therapy in the years following
Isabel's death. I want to be able to do memorable things in my daughter's memory
and raise money to help Sands in their research & support to anyone affected by
the tragic loss of a baby."
Katie and their 2 other daughters Amelia and Phoebe will be there on the day to
cheer him on. To find out more about the charity please visit:-
UK-Sands.org.
