Grieving mothers take on London Landmarks challenge to help others

Rachel, Beth and Emma.

A pair of strong, inspirational women will be taking to the streets of London on Sunday as they take part in a half marathon in memory of their longed-for babies.

Beth Simpson and Emma Zin will be taking part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon to raise important funds for Hampshire Hospitals Charity, after the Forget Me Not Fund supported them following the loss of their young children.

A week after her healthy son Joshua was born, Beth knew something wasn’t quite right. After some initial checks locally, she was told her baby son was really poorly and he was rushed to hospital in Southampton for specialist care. He was diagnosed with Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and she was dealt the devastating blow that he wouldn’t recover. He died at just 10 days old.

“I was offered immediate support and they became my guardian angels. I joined a group with others who had experienced the same loss and meeting them, people who knew what it was like, really helped me. I was also offered charity funded acupuncture and that really helped with the physical impact of such extreme grief.

“Running has helped me immensely mentally. It gives me a focus. And when I run, I think about Joshua and that really helps me get through.”

Emma Zin made the devastating decision to end her pregnancy at 19 weeks after her daughter was diagnosed with Edwards’s syndrome and she was told it was unlikely her baby would survive to full term and could already be in pain.

“It’s a decision no parent ever wants to make,” said Emma. “But, knowing she could already be suffering, we just couldn’t put her through that.

“I thought I’d just go home and be on my own, left to cope with the decision we’d made, but the charity’s Forget Me Not Fund was there for me. I was grieving and didn’t know what to do but they scooped me up and offered me counselling which was amazing. It meant so much to have their support that, when I was ready, I wanted to give something back so they’d be there for other families.”

Both runners took part in the London Landmarks Half Marathon last year and just aimed to get round. They formed a bond with a group of other parents taking part to raise funds for the charity and everyone helped each other through the race.

Emma remembers, “We had our child’s names on our running shirts and I had shivers any time someone said her name. It was incredibly motivating and those cheers really helped me get round the course.”

Joining the pair will be Hannah Vardy, whose sister Rachel Josey lost her third baby halfway through her pregnancy. Speaking about the loss of her daughter Everley at 20 weeks, Rachel said, “We went for the routine 20-week scan and was told that her heart wasn’t beating anymore. We went to Winchester where we were blessed to spend two days in the butterfly suite. We were so lucky to have that time to build memories. We took her hand and footprints and were given teddies for our two older children so they had a way of keeping her close.

“Since then, I’ve had lots of support from the charity and I’ve made some amazing friends through their Flutterbyes group.

“Having just given birth to my fourth child, I’m not able to take part in the run myself but I’m incredibly proud of and grateful to my sister for taking on the challenge to help raise funds to support other local parents.”

Last year’s team ahead of the challenge.

The hospital’s bereavement service supports those who experience the loss of a baby from 12 weeks into the pregnancy to 28 days after birth. Funds raised through Hampshire Hospitals Charity are used to support parents in a variety of ways to ensure parents do not feel isolated.

Laura Mackie, who leads the team supporting parents like Beth, Emma and Rachel said: “Losing a baby is an experience that many cannot begin to comprehend. For those who are living through it, connecting with others who truly understand can bring immense comfort. Thanks to Hampshire Hospitals Charity, we are able to offer a wide range of support for families, including peer support groups, holistic therapies, and we also sponsor a dedicated football team for dads.

“Taking on the London Landmarks Half Marathon is an incredible challenge, and I’ll be there on the day, cheering them on, to show my heartfelt gratitude for the remarkable support they are giving to the Forget Me Not Fund. Their efforts help ensure we can continue providing these much needed services to families navigating unimaginable loss.”

If you’d like to support Beth, Emma, Rachel and Hannah, and the care given to bereaved parents, you can donate vis the button below.