Rosie and I very sadly lost our baby Louis in December 2023 when he was born at 32 weeks.

I wanted to get my trainers back on to raise some money for the Willows Support Group. The Group is made up of parents in the Reading area, who have all lost babies at various stages and was formed in 2008 by a group of parents who wanted to share their experiences with someone else who would understand. The Willows Group meets regularly and has provided vital support for parents who have been through and continue to suffer the loss of a baby.

The Willows Group runs entirely on donations from organised fundraising events and supporters. All donations are gratefully received and make a huge difference to everyone involved with the group. Here are some examples of how your donation can help: £2 will buy the refreshments for the monthly support meetings, £5 will buy two SD cards as part of a memory pack for a bereaved family, £10 will buy two ink-less wipes for hands and foot print memories, £20 will buy a selection of books for families to borrow, £25 will cover hall rental for one months support meeting and £50 will buy a Moses basket for the Willow Room at the Royal Berkshire Hospital where bereaved families can spend quiet time with their baby. I can say from personal experience that all of these things mean a lot at such a difficult time and that Rosie and I were treated with such great care and dignity in the Willow and Maple rooms by the incredible staff at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Any donation is appreciated as we know how much it can make a difference.