Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

It's been two year's since the deeply upsetting death of our daughter Kira, who was born sleeping at term. I remain resolute that though her life was short, that through the actions she has catalysed me to take, that her legacy will be one that will have contributed toward supporting families that have and will continue to bear this tragic burden.

Our daughter was born on the eleventh of August 2023, despite knowing Kira had passed away days earlier, we were gifted five special days in the Princess Anne Hospital to spend time as a family making memories, such as hand/feet casting and prints, cutting a lock from her full head of her, taking more photos than I could count and lots of time simply holding her close and gazing lovingly at her.

My journey to honour our daughter started before even Kira was born; having heard those devasting words uttered to us that 'there is no heart beat', in the days that followed leading up to her birth, an opportunity to fund raise and support other bereaved families presented itself which I grasped firmly, giving me focus and positivity from an otherwise dark and distressing place. I completed 'Walk The Test Way' only six weeks after Kira's birth, undertaking this a second time in 2024. Since completing these first two walks I also successfully completed my training to become a Befriender for Sands.

The 2025 challenge is now ahead of me and affords the opportunity to complete this 26.5 mile walk again but for another charity who kindly cared for us. The heart breaking loss of a child brings an unimaginable anguish that will impact the rest of your life. My wife and I sought support through the excellent counselling services offered by The Firgrove Centre in Southampton during the course of the many months that followed. This was essential in our journey to comprehend our grief, understand how to continue to live our lives and grow around our grief, whilst always honouring our daughters memory.

The Firgrove Centre offer support to anyone impacted by the experience of stillbirth, miscarriage, neo natal death, sudden infant death, termination, infertility and unintended pregnancy. Any donations kindly received will contribute toward their bursary to allow those who are otherwise unable to afford counselling to benefit from what it can offer. Counselling services are unfortunately not widely available on the NHS, I dare not consider the mental health issues that we otherwise may have faced.

My day will start at 5am with a large breakfast, before leaving home to arrive in Romsey to check in at 6am. Three full coaches of walkers supporting numerous worthwhile charitable causes will depart at 7am to arrive at St Mary Bourne near Andover about 8am. My experience of foot injuries sustained with poor boots over the last two years finally taught me a lesson, so with quality boots in tow I'll start on my journey back to Romsey with about seven hours on my feet ahead of me.

80% of the donations raised will be given the charity of my choice The Firgrove Centre, with the balance of 20% of the donations raised maintained to support the Rotary in administering the event and their charitable activities.

I would welcome with thanks your donation in support of my walk in the knowledge that the funds raised will contribute toward supporting bereaved families, a subject normally shrouded in silence.