Midwife's stillbirth story inspires marathon walkers past £10,000
Midwife's stillbirth story inspires marathon walkers past £10,000
04 July 2017
The Marathon4Mothers fundraising total smashed through five figures this week following the 23-mile sponsored walk on 21 June.
Raising money for Imperial Health Charity, the midwives stopped off at seven hospitals along the way and released a commemorative balloon at each mile marker.
The 11-hour walk – on the hottest June day for 40 years – began at the Princess Royal University Hospital in Orpington at 8am before reaching Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital just after 7pm.
The event was inspired by trainee midwife Lauren Petrie, whose daughter Jada was stillborn at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea in 2014.
“As a member of society, I feel you should take responsibility for giving something back,” said Lauren.
“I was born at Hammersmith Hospital and my brother was born at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea. I feel like I want my local hospital to be the best it can be. I can’t stop anyone else having a stillbirth, but I can make it better for parents.”
Following her tragic loss three years ago, Lauren chose to support the charity by raising money for the redevelopment of a new bereavement suite at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, which has provided other parents with a calm and private space to grieve.
After deciding to train as a midwife, she began giving talks to parents about her experience of losing a child and soon inspired her fellow trainees.
They agreed to raise money for ‘Jada’s Room’, the fund set up by Imperial Health Charity to support the upkeep of the bereavement suite at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea. The fund also covers the cost of staff training, counselling, financial support for funeral costs and an annual remembrance service.
Some of the money raised from the Marathon4Mothers challenge will go towards ‘Jada’s Room’, with two other charities - Remember My Baby and Islamic Help’s Birth Campaign – also benefiting from the event.
Laurie Matthews, who helped to organise the walk, said: “The day was a massive success despite the heat. We kept our spirits up by singing, dancing and looking out for sprinklers and fountains along the way!
“Our target was to raise £10,000 and we have actually hit that. We are over the moon that it went so well and want to thank everyone who donated.”
If you would like to donate towards the Marathon4Mothers event, visit their fundraising page.
