Abigail Wilshaw

Raising awareness and donations for SANDS 💙💗

Why I’m Fundraising for Sands

I never imagined that I would be writing a blog about miscarriage, let alone fundraising for a charity that supports families through pregnancy and baby loss.

Recently, I experienced a miscarriage. It was an incredibly difficult and emotional time, and one that I found hard to put into words. Losing a pregnancy can leave you carrying a mixture of grief, sadness, confusion and so many unanswered questions. Even when the pregnancy was still in its early stages, the hopes and feelings attached to it were very real.

One of the hardest parts can be feeling as though you have to carry that loss quietly while the rest of the world continues as normal.

That is one of the reasons I chose to support Sands.

Sands is a charity dedicated to supporting people affected by pregnancy and baby loss. What particularly resonates with me is their understanding that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, and that people need somewhere to turn where their loss is recognised and understood.

Knowing that there is an organisation there to listen, provide information and connect people with others who have experienced something similar means a great deal to me.

Although everyone experiences miscarriage differently, there can be a sense of loneliness that is difficult to explain. Sometimes you don’t need someone to fix what has happened — you simply need someone to acknowledge it, listen and understand.

The work Sands does helps create that space.

I am fundraising for Sands because I want to help them continue supporting people who find themselves going through one of the most difficult experiences of their lives. I also want to help raise awareness about pregnancy loss and encourage people to talk about it more openly.

For me, this isn’t about trying to find a positive side to something that was painful. It’s about taking something that has happened to me and using my experience, in some small way, to help someone else feel less alone.

If you choose to donate, thank you. Every contribution, whatever the amount, can help Sands continue their work supporting families affected by pregnancy and baby loss.

And if you’ve experienced a miscarriage or baby loss yourself, I hope you know that your grief matters, your experience matters, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and, if you are able to, for supporting Sands 💕