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 19^th 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 5^th walk and then last
year Julie Ridley joined their team to do their 6^th walk. To date they have walked over 900 miles and this their 7^thyear 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 200 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 45 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 39 and live in Tamworth. I have 3 sons Liam, Ben and Tom and 1 grand daughter Mia. 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 42 and live in Tamworth. I have 2 children who I love spending time with and I am a Field supervisor for a community care company which I thoroughly enjoy doing as I feel like I am giving something back by helping people of all ages to do there day to day duties. When I am not working or spending quality time with my family.  I’m a captain of 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, Bob 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.

Julie Ridley - Hi my name is Julie and I am 51 years old and live in Birmingham with my family. I have 2 teenage daughters who I love and I have been a police officer for the past 25 years. In my spare time I am learning to ride a motorbike and my other loves in my life apart from my family are Birmingham City Football Club and German Shepard Dogs. I want to be as active as I can while I'm still lucky to have my health so that is what is inspiring me to join the guys. I can't begin to understand the heartache for the families of stillborn babies and those unfortunate to have miscarriages. I have been so impressed by the people who are doing the walk already as they have so much enthusiasm that I want to be part of it and raise funds for the campaign and
awareness.

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 6 such challenges totalling a distance of 920 miles so far and in doing so have raised over £28,000 for the charity. To find out more about us please visit www.4louis.co.uk/walk4louis

 In 2016 we are planning to walk from Huddersfield to Sunderland , a total of approx 175 miles which we will be walking over 10 days.  We are starting on 23rd June at Huddersfield Forget Me Not Hospice and finishing on 2nd July at Sunderland Royal Hospital, 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 23rd : Forget Me Not Hospice Huddersfield to Bradford

Day 2 , June 24th : Midland Hotel Bradford to Leeds

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