On March 3^rd 2018 I met my beautiful niece, Darcey. Sadly, after just a few precious hours with her parents and family, she passed away from an illness she could not survive. Naturally, our worlds were turned upside down, particularly for my Sister and Brother-in-Law. Nothing can prepare you for something like that. Families try to pull together, but you can never be fully ready for an event that extreme.

Amazingly, there was a light in all of that darkness in the form of the charity SANDS. SANDS provide free support to those affected by stillbirth and neonatal death, as well as promoting research to reduce the loss of babies’ lives. I’ll admit I knew nothing about the organisation until March last year; but they have provided unparalleled support to Darcey’s parents through the most unimaginable ordeal, and I would love to raise as much awareness and importantly funds for this incredible charity.

April the 28^th is the date of the London Marathon and I’ll be proudly running with my Brother-in-Law, Phill. If you’re available to come on down and cheer us on your presence would be warmly welcomed. But what we really want is your cold hard cash. Please give whatever you can and let’s blow the donation target out of the water.

For more information about SANDS please visit www.sands.org.uk

Thanks for your support.

Gareth/Gaz