14 April 2015

On 26 April 2015 45 people, all of whom have been affected by the death of a baby, will be pounding the streets of the capital in this year’s Virgin Money London Marathon.

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, works to support bereaved families and improve the care they receive as well as fund vital research to prevent more families suffering the loss of their precious baby.

To do this they rely on the generosity of fundraisers and supporters to continue their vital work.

Stillbirth and neonatal death are not rare events. In 2013 over 5700 babies died before, during or soon after birth, that’s 110 babies every week.

It’s a tragedy that can happen to anyone and at anytime. It’s devastating not just for parents, but also for grandparents, siblings, other children, aunts and uncles, friends, work colleagues and health professionals such as midwives who have cared for parents and babies that have died.

Team Sands will see runners from all walks of life take on this 26.2 mile run and they expect to raise around £50,000 collectively.

Dan Hubbard’s first baby daughter Isabel died one hour after birth, following complications in the final stages of labour, in October 2009.

Dan, a Group Energy Manager from Southport, and his wife Katie have already raised over £6,000 for Sands by completing various other half marathons and 10k events since Isabel’s death. And now Dan is taking his biggest challenge so far.

He said: “To say our world was turned upside- down would be an understatement. We spent months of caring and talking to our little ‘bump’, preparing the nursery, planning and dreaming about our future as a family. And at the end of it all, we had to go home without our beautiful baby girl. Nothing can prepare you for that.

“Following Isabel’s death we discovered Sands. They provided incredible support to us and our family. Running and raising money for Sands provided a real focus and a form of therapy in the years following Isabel's death.  I want to be able to do memorable things in my daughter’s memory and raise money to help Sands in their research & support to anyone affected by the tragic loss of a baby.”

Katie and their two other daughters Amelia and Phoebe will be there on the day to cheer him on.

To find out more about the charity please visit: https://www.uk-sands.org  

ENDS

Notes to editors

Some runners are available for interview.

Contacts:

For more information, please contact Natalie Cooper, Sands Press & PR Officer, on 0203 598 1959, e: Natalie.cooper@uk-sands.org. 

Press contact on the day: Hannah Ward, Sands Communications Manager: 07798 765 511.