Stuart Sparkes' Fundraising Page

Stuart Sparkes is raising money for Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC)
Donations cannot currently be made to this page

Flora London Marathon 2009 · 26 April 2009 ·

ARC is the only national charity helping parents and healthcare professionals through antenatal testing and its consequences.

Story

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page and for supporting me in my effort to run the London Marathon.

I'm running in support of a small charity, ARC, that has really helped my wife, Clare, and I very recently. ARC helps expectant parents get impartial and informed support after they are given news of adverse results from tests on their unborn child.

Having been in this position we saw that health professionals, without specific knowledge or training, cannot provide the help or information that parents need or the support network of individuals who have been through similar trauma.

Your donation to ARC will make a difference.

For example:

  • £10- pays for an information and support pack for a bereaved or expectant parent. We were fortunate as we got this the day our son was diagnosed as having a problem and it really helped us understand what choices we had
  • £20 - pays for the website for a day – an essential aid for parents and health professionals
  • £30 - will ensure ARC 10 Handbooks go to a hospital to be available to parents on hearing bad news
  • £50 - will give training to a volunteer to provide local support to bereaved and anxious parents
  • £100 - will pay for the upkeep of the helpline for one day – often the first point of call for a distressed parent
  • £450 - will pay for the postage for the mail out of the ARC Newsletter to 4000 bereaved parents
  • £1000 - will pay for a full days training for midwives and doctors to provide better care for parents

Whilst the above may appear ethereal the trick for ARC is information distribution and we can vouch that it is information that you need in such difficult situations.

Our son Thomas was diagnosed as having a complex congenital heart problem at a late stage in Clare's pregnancy. We found there were precious few sources of such information as we struggled with the enormity of making a life and death decision. I am running to support ARC and in memory of Thomas.

Donating through Justgiving is quick, easy and totally secure. It’s also the most efficient way to sponsor me:  Antenatal Results And Choices ("ARC") gets your money faster and, if you’re a UK taxpayer, Justgiving makes sure 25% in Gift Aid, plus a 3% supplement, are added to your donation.

Thank you

Stuart

Donation summary

Total
£8,295.42
+ £2,001.27 Gift Aid
Online
£8,295.42
Offline
£0.00

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