David Ward
David Ward & Craig Chalmers LLHM
Fundraising for Abigail's Footsteps
Story
In 2009 my daughter Abigail was stillborn at 41 weeks gestation.
In 2010, to help other families through the same traumatic circumstances, my wife Jo and I created Abigails Footsteps.
This year is the charities 10th anniversary. We don’t view it as a date to celebrate, but a date to commemorate those tens of thousands of babies who in the last ten years of the charity’s existence were stillborn or died a neo-natal death soon after birth. We also want to spare a thought for those parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles whose lives have been changed forever because of their loss.
Abigails Footsteps help in many ways, from creating sympathetic space for parents in hospitals, to providing much needed equipment for parents to spend longer with their babies and bereavement training for midwives, as many have never received any bereavement training.
To help raise these funds I have agreed to run the London Landmarks half marathon, the first time I have run in over 36 years. My plan was to train leading up to the event, however the rigors of work and home in recent months have not made that possible. So I now have four weeks to get into some kind of shape so that I can complete the course, which I will do.
Thankfully I will be aided by charity vice presidents Julie Etchingham, Cheryl Baker and Craig Chalmers and a team of 37 other runners, including Anthony Chapman who will be running in a bear costume. We have called the bear Abigail; she will be wearing a nifty pink tutu which Cheryl Baker will be ripping of at various times around the course!
So, if you can help me over the line with some support, I would be very grateful. In particular I call on my colleagues in the security industry and FM world to help me as I run past your sites in the City of London, a cheer or a wave would be very much appreciated.
Your financial support would be even more appreciated and you can show it by donating at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-ward79-llhm
Many of you have commented on seeing my recent pancake post on LinkedIn which so far has had 80,194 views!! If each person who viewed that post could donate £1 to my page, we would be able to help so many parents and midwives around the country with much needed support when they most need it, so please donate.
Thank you very much to those of you who have donated so far, it really is appreciated.
