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 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 the team on their 5th walk, in 2015 Julie Ridley joined the team to do their 6th walk and last year on their 8th walk Verity Caine and Chelsea Wraxton joined them to take on their 1st 200 mile challenge. To date they have walked over 1500 miles and raised over £41,000 for 4Louis. This their 9th year and Walk4Louis will be taking on their 3rd 200 mile challenge walking across 2 countries for the first time , starting in Cardiff and finishing in Tamworth.

 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 300 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 48 and live in Cramlington, Northumberland with my wife Julia, daughter Lily and also have two 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 42 and I live in Tamworth. I have 3 sons Liam, Ben and Tom and 1 grand daughter Mia and 3 grand sons Jacob. Joshua and Joey. 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 who I have a season ticket for  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 funds and awareness 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 45 and live in Tamworth. 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.

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 9 such challenges totalling a distance of over 1,500 miles so far and in doing so have raised over £41,000 for the charity.

This year we are planning our 10th walk from Cardiff to Tamworth , a total of approx 200 miles which we will be walking over 13 days.  We are starting on 17th June at Cardiff Castle and finishing on 29th June in Tamworth, 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 17th : Tour of Cardiff (The Angel Hotel to Hotel Ibis Cardiff Gate)

Day 2 , June 18th : Cardiff (Hotel Ibis Cardiff Gate) to Newport (Hampton By Hilton Newport)

Day 3 , June 19th : Newport (Hampton By Hilton Newport) to Chepstow (George Hotel)

Day 4 , June 20th : Chepstow (George Hotel) to Bristol (Hampton By Hilton Bristol City Centre)

Day 5 , June 21st : Bristol (Hampton By Hilton Bristol City Centre) to Bath (MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel)

Day 6, June 22nd : Bath (MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel) to Chippenham (Bell House Hotel)

Day 7 , June 23rd : Chippenham (Bell House Hotel) to Stroud (The Bell Inn)

Day 8 , June 24th : Stroud (The Bell Inn) to Cheltenham  (Cheltenham Chase Hotel)

Day 9 , June 25th : Cheltenham (Cheltenham Chase Hotel) to Evesham (The Royal Oak)

Day 10 , June 26th : Evesham (The Royal Oak) to Stratford upon Avon (Stratford Manor)

Day 11 , June 27th : Stratford upon Avon (Stratford Manor) to Knowle (Greswolde Arms)

Day 12, June 28th : Knowle (Greswolde Arms) to Birmingham (Holiday Inn Express, Snow Hill)

Day 13, June 29th : Birmingham (Holiday Inn Express, Snow Hill)  to Tamworth (TBC)

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.