Updated on Jul 21st 2012 at 3:28 PM from the JustGiving API

My official time is in, I completed it in 36 minutes and came 155 out of 160, so chuffed that I completed it.

Updated on Jul 21st 2012 at 7:38 AM from the JustGiving API

Run day has arrived! Ekkkk! A massive thank you to each and every one of you who have showed your support xxx

Updated on Jul 20th 2012 at 3:03 PM from the JustGiving API

EKKK....drinking lots of water and eating stuff I'm told will help tomorrow, I'll try anything at this point. Thank you to all who have sponsored me. If you've yet to donate please show your support to this fantastic charity. Xxx

Updated on Jul 19th 2012 at 11:18 AM from the JustGiving API

Hi everyone with only two days to go and the nerves start to kick in please show your support to this fantastic charity and the difference they make to so many families! X

Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. 

Sands is a national charity, established by bereaved parents in 1981.

They have 3 core aims which are to:

• Support anyone affected by the death of a baby;
• To work in partnership with health professionals to improve the quality of care and services offered to bereaved families; and
• To promote research and changes in practice that could help to reduce the loss of babies' lives

I have set up this page for a couple of reasons, in memory of our daughter Sofia and to raise awareness of the pain of losing a child during pregnancy. 

On the weekend of the 19th November 2011,  I was working on the laptop when I felt two very strong kicks (movements). It was so strong that it made me jump, I laughed "hello there little one" and then there was a third kick, such an amazing feeling. I'd been feeling flutters since 15 weeks but nothing like this. It was so strong!

Then on Monday 21st November I woke up feeling sick with nerves, Jamie and I were off to hear our baby’s heartbeat for the first time. I was so worried. We got there and the midwife placed the wand on my tummy and there it was this incredible sound, our baby’s heartbeat. It was so strong and the midwife commented "that's what we like a good strong heartbeat". I couldn't believe it! We'd heard our baby. 

The following Tuesday (29th) our worlds fell apart, nothing would ever be the same again. We had our 20 week scan, the sonographer put the wand on my tummy, I looked at the screen expecting to see our baby lit up like at our 12 week scan but it wasn't, it was so dark. I looked away, it was a short time after that I was asked if I had any cramping or bleeding. I said no and started to cry, she then said the words that no parent should ever have to hear "I'm so sorry there is no heartbeat". She scanned again but still no heartbeat. 

We were then taken to another ward to talk about what was going to happen next, this wasn't supposed to be happening. We were supposed to be going shopping for our baby, that's what we had planned. Instead we were sat in a room being told that I was going to have to give birth, none of it felt real. How could this be happening?   It was then that they gave us a SANDS pack. I was sent home for a couple of nights, it was the second night that we looked at the SANDS pack, and we learnt that we could hold our baby, have hand and footprints taken and take photographs. 

On the 01st December I gave birth to our beautiful baby girl, Sofia. When we held her for the first time we felt overjoyed. I couldn't believe it, she was perfect, we were parents! We took lots of photos and asked the hospital for the prints of Sofia's hands and feet. The following day we had her christened. 

It was after the christening, when we had to leave the hospital that it really hit me. I was leaving the hospital but where was our baby, where was the car seat, the baby on board sticker?  That night I woke up and my milk had come in, my baby needed feeding but she wasn't there.  

The following days / weeks were the most painful days I have ever experienced.  On the 16th December we held our baby girl for the last time, I carried the coffin in and we held a short service where Sofia's immediate family attended. Jamie lowered our baby girls coffin into ground and we said our goodbyes. But the truth is we never really say goodbye we simply say see you on the other side. 

I hope my story hasn't upset you. We are and always will be devastated that Sofia isn't with us today, but we are equally so privileged to be able to call ourselves parents to our beautiful baby girl, who has my long fingers and Jamie's perfect (but don't tell him that) ears. 

I'll be running for Sofia, SANDS and all angel babies.

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