Raising Money & Why This Cause Means So Much to Us

You might assume our reasons for supporting this cause come from personal loss, but the truth is, it's because we didn’twalk that path. And we know just how incredibly lucky we are.

Rachael’s pregnancy took a sudden, terrifying turn. She experienced a placenta abruption at home, on a day when the ambulance service was on strike. From the moment of the abruption to Frankie’s delivery, it took 45 minutes which, unknown to me at the time, was a staggering amount of time for a baby to survive, and put Rachael at significant risk herself.

At the time, all I could think with unwavering doubt was that everything was going to be ok. It wasn’t until hearing from midwives how lucky we had been, as other babies hadn’t made it with far shorter time between abruption and delivery, that the reality truly hit us.

To have Frankie born safely, fighting fit, and reunited with us within 24 hours felt nothing short of a miracle. When you learn of others losing their little ones within hours of birth, it changes something in you. It makes you realise just how fine that line is between heartbreak and hope.

Although Frankie was our little miracle baby, the experience was one of the most difficult things we’ve ever had to process, and it came with its own kind of loss. Rachael was unconscious when delivering Frankie, meaning she wasn’t present at the birth. I was completely torn, not knowing whether to be with Rach or by Frankie’s side. When I first held our baby, I was in total shock, it was hard to feel anything at all. That family connection we’d always imagined didn’t come until nearly 24 hours later, which was incredibly hard to process.

We found ourselves navigating something traumatic and deeply emotional, despite the outcome being a positive one. And that’s what’s led us here.

We’ve decided, together, to challenge ourselves, to raise money, raise awareness, and shine a light on something we feel truly passionate about. We want to support the development and improvement of bereavement spaces at Wigan - spaces that offer comfort, dignity, and compassion to families going through unimaginable pain.

We were lucky. So very lucky. But many aren't and we want to help ensure that, in those hardest of moments, families are met with the care, space and support they truly deserve.

If you can help us make a difference, we’d be incredibly grateful. Every penny raised will go towards making these spaces as supportive, peaceful and comforting as they possibly can be.

With love and thanks,

Damon & Rach