Kenan Arikan

I’m swimming in November for families facing baby loss

Kenan’s 25K Swim in Memory of Baby Smurf 

This November, my 11-year-old son Kenan will be swimming 25 kilometres to raise money for Sands Charity, in memory of our dear friend Leanne’s precious little boy Ben, lovingly known as Baby Smurf.

Me and Leanne were due just days apart… two excited mums waiting to meet our babies. But heartbreakingly, her beautiful boy was born asleep. 

From that moment, Ben has always held a special place in our hearts — and in our children’s hearts too. Every year, around his birthday, we make sure to celebrate him, to speak his name, and to remind the world that he is loved, remembered, and will never be forgotten. 

Sands is a charity that stands beside families through the unimaginable — offering support, care, and hope to anyone affected by the loss of a baby. They also fund vital research and awareness work to help save babies’ lives, so fewer families ever have to face this pain.

Kenan wanted to do something special — to swim for Ben, to swim for all the babies who couldn’t stay, and to help Sands continue their amazing work. He’s training hard, and we couldn’t be prouder of his big heart. 

If you’d like to support him, please donate — every single penny helps, and every share helps us reach more people.

 Let’s do this for Baby Smurf. For all the little ones gone too soon, but forever loved. 

#SwimForSands #BabySmurf #InMemoryOfBen #SandsCharity #AlwaysInOurHearts #ProudMum