FRIENDS from Malvern are running in the Worcester City 10k to raise funds to start a support group for bereaved families affected by the heartbreak of stillbirth.
Steve Rowan, aged 57, of Barnards Green and Sarah Cuddy, manager of the Bluebell Inn, Barnards Green, are running for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity on Sunday, September 20.
Sands supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and works in partnership with health professionals to try to ensure that bereaved parents and families receive the best possible care.
Sands also funds research that could help to reduce the numbers of babies dying and families devastated by this tragedy.
Stillbirth has recently entered the national spotlight following a harrowing plotline in EastEnders
which has worked closely with Sands.
In the soap Shabnam Masood and Kush Kazemi’s unborn baby die.
In 2013, over 5700 babies died just before, during or soon after birth. That’s over 100 babies every week.
Mr Rowan said his target was to raise £500 for Sands. He added: "Long before I met my wife she suffered a stillbirth in the 1980s. At the time this was handled very badly, almost like a 'none event'.
"Today, fortunately, these tragedies are handled far more sympathetically and with greater compassion.
"As a result of the work that Sands do, my wife has finally been able to acknowledge the grief of the loss of a child and as a result, move on from that very traumatic event positively.
"I am not aware of a Sands support group within Worcestershire. My aim is at the least to raise money for Sands and increase public awareness of this charity, however by doing this run and raising money for Sands, my ultimate aim to raise enough public interest to start a support group within Worcestershire so that others can benefit from the support my wife and I have gained from Sands."
If you would like to make a donation visit
www.justgiving.com/STEPHEN-ROWAN3
If you are keen to get involved in setting up a support group in Worcestershire , please contact
Trudy Berlet, Bereavement Support Midwife, Worcestershire Acute NHS Trust by phone or email at 01905 763333 extn 3901 or by email at:
Trudy.Berlet@worcsacute.nhs.uk
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