Katie Wright

Running for those we never got to meet

February is often associated with love, but for many people it can also be a month that quietly carries grief. This February, I’m challenging myself to run 2 kilometres every single day! Not just for fitness, but to help raise awareness of baby loss and to support the incredible work of SANDS.

Baby loss affects far more families than many of us realise. Miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal death can happen to anyone, yet they’re often spoken about in whispers or not at all. The silence around baby loss can make the experience feel isolating, even though so many people are living with it every day.

I chose this challenge because running gives me time to think. Each 2k run is a moment to pause, reflect, and honour babies who were deeply loved but never got the chance to grow up. It’s also a reminder of the parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends whose lives were changed forever often without the world noticing.

SANDS provides vital support to anyone affected by baby loss. From helplines and bereavement resources to training for healthcare professionals, they work tirelessly to ensure families are not left to navigate their grief alone. Their work helps create space for conversations that are painful, but so necessary.

This challenge isn’t about speed, distance, or personal bests. Some days the run will feel easy; other days it will feel heavy emotionally and physically. But showing up each day matters. If this challenge sparks even one conversation, helps one person feel less alone, or raises awareness of the support available, then every step is worth it.

If you’re reading this and baby loss has touched your life in any way, please know you are not alone. Your grief is valid. Your baby matters. And there is support out there for you.

Thank you for supporting my February challenge and for helping shine a light on a subject that deserves compassion, understanding, and openness.