Halina Williams

Running for Olivia

Every step I take on this journey carries meaning. I’m not just running for fitness or for a challenge, I’m running for love, for remembrance, and for hope.

I’m running in memory of my beautiful daughter, Olivia.

Olivia fought so hard in her short life. She showed strength beyond anything I could have imagined, and even though she was only with us for four months, she changed me forever. She taught me what real bravery looks like. She taught me how deep love can go. And she continues to give me the strength to keep moving forward, even on the hardest days.

There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t think of her. I carry her with me in everything I do in my heart, in my thoughts, and now, in every mile I run. When my legs feel heavy and my breath gets short, I remind myself of Olivia and the fight she put up. If she could face every challenge with such courage, then I can keep going too.

That’s why I’ve chosen to run 2 kilometres every day for Sands.

Sands is a charity that supports anyone affected by the death of a baby. They provide vital emotional support, resources, and a safe space for parents and families who are experiencing the unimaginable pain of baby loss. When your world shatters in an instant, having someone who understands,someone who can sit with you in the grief makes more difference than words can express.

No parent should have to walk this road alone.

Baby loss is something people don’t always talk about. It’s uncomfortable. It’s heartbreaking. But it’s also far more common than many realise. Behind closed doors, so many families are grieving quietly, trying to survive day by day while carrying a pain that never truly disappears.

By running for Sands, I want to help make sure those families get the support they deserve. I want to help fund counselling, helplines, bereavement care, and awareness so that parents know they are not alone and that their babies matter.

This challenge isn’t easy and it’s not meant to be. Some days the run feels tough physically. Other days it feels tough emotionally. But that’s part of the point. It’s my way of honouring Olivia’s life, her strength, and the love I will always have for her.

I’m so proud to be her parent. Proud of her fight. Proud of the mark she’s left on my heart. And proud to run in her name.

If you’re reading this and you’re able to support, I would be so grateful for any donation, no matter how small. Every pound raised helps Sands continue their life-changing work and ensures that other parents facing baby loss have someone to lean on when they need it most.

And if you can’t donate, sharing this message, talking about baby loss, and helping to break the silence also makes a difference.

This run is for Olivia.

This run is for every baby gone too soon.

And this run is for every parent learning how to breathe again after heartbreak.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. 💛