Some will know that I was supposed to run the 2018 London Landmarks Half Marathon for Tommy’s, the baby charity, however I had to pull out due to falling pregnant with Finley and not feeling confident enough in my running abilities to manage 13 miles at 6 months pregnant! I’m still not sure I’m confident about my ability to run 13 miles 7 months after giving birth... but I’m determined to fufil this goal ~ I better get training!? 

Both Simon and I really do appreciate just how incredibly lucky we are to have to have safely welcomed our healthy little boy into the world. Sadly even in modern times with all the medical advances and technology available there is no guarantee that a pregnancy will have the happy ending that is expected and deserved. We personally know of several friends, family members and colleagues who have experienced the devastation of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth and have witnessed the total heartbreak this causes women and their families . This has made me even more determined to run the LLHM to support Tommy’s, the baby charity. 

What does Tommy’s do? First and foremost Tommy’s  funds vital research into the causes of miscarriage, still birth and premature birth, they work tirelessly to try and ensure that less pregnancies end in heartbreak. Tommy’s also provides support services for parents-to-be and families during pregnancy and counselling support for bereaved families following loss. Lastly, Tommy’s are working hard to break the taboos and raise awareness of baby loss. 

I was always aware that rates of miscarriage, still birth and preterm births was unacceptably high but the numbers are simply shocking. Tommy’s estimate that 1 in 4 women lose a baby during pregnancy or birth. Each day:

* 2,122 babies are born

* 9 babies are stillborn

* 684 babies are miscarried

* 164 babies are born preterm

This is unacceptable. 

Tommy's exist because there is a desperate need for funding into maternal and fetal research. When a parent is told their baby has died in pregnancy or birth, or their baby is born too soon, they are often also told that the medical teams do not know why it happened. This is because the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth are not yet understood.

Miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth could happen to any family, at any time and this is why I am running for Tommy's. They are working tirelessly to try and understand and hopefully one day be able to reduce or prevent the number of devastating losses. 

I would be so incredibly thankful for any and all donations for this incredibly worthy cause! Love Tara xx