Alice Drake

Why I’m running 50k in September

Why I’m fundraising ❤️

My husband Kris and I, along with our children Oscar and Arthur, know all too well the devastating reality of losing a baby.

We lost our beautiful daughter and their baby sister, Everlyn, when she was just 13 days old whilst in NICU. Nothing can prepare you for losing your child, and the pain and grief that follows is something you learn to carry rather than something that ever truly goes away.

That is why this charity is so incredibly close to our hearts.

They provide vital support to families who have lost a baby or child, but also understand the unique and often incredibly difficult journey that can follow when a family goes on to have another baby.

After losing Everlyn, we went on to have Noah. His arrival brought so much love and happiness back into our family, but having another baby doesn’t mean you stop grieving the baby you lost. There can be so many emotions intertwined — happiness, love, fear, anxiety and sadness — all whilst desperately missing the child who should have been there too.

Noah will never replace his sister, nor would we ever want him to. But through him, Everlyn lives on. She is his big sister, a part of our family and a part of his story. We will make sure he grows up knowing all about the beautiful sister who came before him and how incredibly loved she is and always will be.

This charity recognises that families need support not only through the devastating loss of a child, but also through the journey that comes afterwards. They understand that welcoming another baby doesn’t erase the grief and that parents can need support navigating both the joy of a new life and the heartbreak of the life they lost.

I absolutely hate running 😂, but this is something I feel very strongly about, and something I need to do.

If I can raise money that helps another family who has lost their precious baby feel less alone, or supports a family welcoming another baby whilst still carrying the grief of the child they lost, then every painful step will be worth it.

I’m doing this for Everlyn, for our family, and for all the babies and families who need this incredible support. ❤️