As a father of two young children, I know very well the joy a new baby brings – not only to the new parents but also to older siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, cousins, and friends. The birth of a new baby is one of life’s true miracles and a cause for the biggest celebration for a whole community. For the expectant parents, the months before the arrival are filled with excitement and planning, surrounded by family and friends.

However, the journey to parenthood isn’t always straightforward. Unfortunately, for many couples and their families, it can be long, difficult, and heartbreaking. Instead of feeling excitement and planning for the new arrival, they are faced with months of anxiety, stress, fear, and isolation. The days that should be filled shopping for new clothes and painting the nursery are instead full of hospital appointments and invasive tests. And, for a large number, when the day finally comes that they should proudly be carrying their bundle of joy home for the first time, their arms are left empty and their hearts are full of grief.  

About the Charity – Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)

In the UK, around 800,000 women become pregnant every year. Around 40,000 of these women will be told that there is a risk that their baby may have a serious fetal anomaly. 

This will cause a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty for the parents and their families; and while most parents will ultimately be reassured that their pregnancy is progressing as expected, some will unfortunately be given the devastating news that their baby has a serious, sometimes fatal condition or a condition where the outlook is uncertain. 

ARC is the only national charity to provide parents with much-needed, non-directive information and support throughout screening. Their aim is to enable parents to make decisions during antenatal testing which are appropriate for their individual circumstances. ARC is here to give parents specialised support when an anomaly is diagnosed in their baby, for as long as they are needed.

ARC provides information and support to parents who are:

• Making decisions before, during, and after antenatal screening
• Told that their baby has a fetal anomaly
• Having to make decisions about continuing their pregnancy
• Having to make decisions about ending their pregnancy
• Having to cope with complex issues after a decision is made, including bereavement

The Challenge

I plan to cycle from London to Brighton  – a distance of 100km (60 miles) and an elevation of over 5000 ft – on 2nd October to raise money for this incredibly deserving charity.  As many of you know, I am not the most athletic of people so this presents a real challenge for me (more so as I have currently sprained my wrist, which has set back my training schedule a significant amount). 

ARC are a small charity that do not get enough recognition for the very important work they do, both with families and medical professionals. I hope to raise funds for this worthwhile cause to support their efforts, and I would be grateful for your donations and well wishes to provide that extra motivation to push me to the finish line!