If you have children could you ever imagine life with out them now? 17 women a day give birth to either a stillborn baby or a baby who dies very soon after birth. 4Louis provide memory boxes so bereaved parents can have a memory of their much loved child with them forever.

In 2010 best friends, Paul Taft and Phil Barker decided to support a charity called 4Louis.

At 9:30am on the 19th April 2010 Walk4Louis came to fruition as Paul and Phil took the first steps on a 192-mile walk from Sunderland Royal Hospital to the Sands Baby Memorial Garden in Alrewas Arboretum. Little did they know at the end of this challenge that had tested them both physically and mentally that it would be the beginning of an annual epic Walk4Louis challenge. In 2014
friend Mark Deleon joined them on their 5th walk and then last
year Julie Ridley joined their team to do their 6th walk. To date they have walked over 900 miles and this their 7thyear Walk4Louis will be clocking up their 1000th mile by walking from Huddersfield back to Sunderland Royal Hospital where it all began in 2010.

 About 4Louis:

 In December 2009, my boss Bob’s  daughter Kirsty was due to give birth to her first child and his first grandchild but unfortunately tragedy struck and she gave birth to a beautiful sleeping angel Louis Robert Joseph Knight. 

Kirsty set up a charity called 4Louis (www.4louis.co.uk) which helps bereaved parents of stillborn and neonatal babies, the charity creates keepsake boxes so that people who have lost a child can capture as many memories as they can.

 The idea has won the hearts of families across the UK. The boxes are
supplied to over 250 hospitals across the country so far. Demands for the 4Louis service is so great, it supplies between 200 and 300 boxes a week. 4Louis has been asked to supply British Armed Forces camps, including ones in Germany, Cyprus and Northern Ireland.


Each memory box contains treasured items including a card, so the family can write a poem or letter to baby; a curl box for a lock of the baby’s hair, a balloon, and a postcard. It also includes a clay cast to capture an impression of baby’s hands and feet; an inkless wipe to capture imprints of baby’s hands and feet; a glass angel in a box; a candle; an acknowledgement of life certificate; plant able paper with
forget-me-not seeds; and a Guess How Much I Love You box.

Who are Walk4louis:

Paul Taft -   Hi  my name is Paul and I'm 46 and live in Cramlington, Northumberland with my wife Julia, daughter Lily and step kids Michael & Michelle and also have a grand daughter Priya. Apart from my family my other big passions are Aston Villa Football Club and horse racing. I work as a warehouse operative for a drilling company called MGS ( Marton Geotechnical Services Ltd). It is here I met my boss and Kirsty's father Bob and after seeing the heartache and devastation that the family went through when Kirsty gave birth to their Sleeping Angel Louis and hearing of how the family wanted to try and help other families who went though this upset I felt compelled to help. So after enlisted Phil's help in setting up Walk4Louis we were in a position to do something to help other people who suffer the same devastation as I couldn't imagine what it would feel like to go through. So with every walk and every penny we can raise to help 4Louis provide keepsake memory boxes to bereaved parents I know I'm helping a parents.

 Phil Barker - Hi my name is Phil and I am 40 and live in Tamworth. I have 3 sons Liam, Ben and Tom and 1 grand daughter Mia and 1 grand son Jacob. I work as a Project Manager for Sainsbury's Supermarkets, which sometimes involves working away from home because of this I like spending my free time with my family. My other passions in my life are supporting Aston Villa Football Club and enjoy watching my home national team Wales playing in football and rugby. My reason for helping Paul do Walk4Louis was my sister-in-law Nicola gave birth to Holly in September 2009 but unfortunately she was only with us for 12 days before she joined the sleeping angels. So I agreed to help Paul in Holly's memory and to help raise some money for a charity that helps towards a subject that is rarely spoken about. Since we founded Walk4Louis it has gone from strength to strength.

 Mark Deleon - Hi my name is Mark I'm 43 and live in Mancetter. I have 2 children who I love spending time with and I am a driver/factory worker for a stair specialist company. When I am not working or spending quality time with my family. Im in a pool team on a Tuesday night plus I enjoy playing snooker & darts, which allows me to go out & socialize with people which I do enjoy. I also enjoy walking my beautiful shi tzu's Bob & Eragon. The reason I decided to get on board with the guys and the charity is really a continuation of the buzz I get from doing my job I want to give something back and helping a worthy charity and help people who have unfortunately gone through what must be one of the most painful ordeals that anyone can go through. I don't do it for any kind of acknowledgement I do it purely to help people because I know I can.
Another reasons i do it is because over 40 yrs ago my parents lost my 2 brothers just after birth & in that day & age there was no help for people who went through the bereavement of losing children so this is my way of helping those unfortunate parents in this day & age.

Chelsea Louise Wraxton -  Hi my name is Chelsea I'm 20 and live in Tamworth. I have 3 younger siblings that I love to spending time with and I am a catering assistant which I thoroughly enjoy doing,When I am not working or spending quality time with my family I like socialize with friends which I do enjoy. The reason I decided to get on board with the guys and the charity is really to give something back and helping a worthy charity and help people who have unfortunately gone through what must be one of the most painful ordeals that anyone can go through. I don't do it for any kind of publicity or followers on social media I do it purely to help people because I know I can.
I know there isn't much help for people who went or going through the bereavement of losing children so this is my way of helping those unfortunate parents in this day & age.

About Walk4louis:

 Each year Walk4Louis take on a long distance walking challenge and with your support and kind donations our aim is to raise money for the 4Louis charity so as they can provide more hospitals and hospices with their keepsake memory boxes to help bereaved parents who have suffered a loss. To date we have completed 7 such challenges totalling a distance of 1,095 miles so far and in doing so have raised over £32,000 for the charity. To find out more about us please visit www.4louis.co.uk/walk4louis

In 2017 we are planning to walk from Central London to Wolverhampton , a total of approx 200 miles which we will be walking over 11 days.  We are starting on 21st June at London and finishing on 1st July at Wolverhampton, along the route we will be visiting a selection of hospitals and hospices that 4Louis provide keepsake memory boxes too.

Please see our daily walk guide below :

Day 1, June 21st : Central London to Hampstead

Day 2 , June 22nd : Hampstead to Hatfield

Day 3 , June 23rd : Hatfield to Hitchin

Day 4 , June 24th : Hitchin to Dunstable

Day 5 , June 25th : Dunstable to Milton Keynes

Day 6 , June 26th : Milton Keynes to Northampton

Day 7 , June 27th : Northampton to Rugby

Day 8 , June 28th : Rugby to Coventry

Day 9 , June 29th : Coventry to Tamworth

Day 10 , June 30th : Tamworth to Walsall

Day 11 , Final Day , July 1st : Walsall to Wolverhampton

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.