Lorraine Macinnes

50K in September

September is going to be a little busier than usual this year.

I’m taking on the SANDS 50K Challenge -logging at least 50 kilometres throughout September to raise awareness and support the work of SANDS, the charity supporting anyone affected by the death of a baby.

For me, this challenge feels particularly personal.

A close friend recently lost her much loved, longed-for baby and I work in a private ultrasound clinic, so every day I’m surrounded by the excitement, anticipation and hope that comes with pregnancy. I get to see people meet their babies for the first time, hear heartbeats, watch families find out whether they’re having a little boy or girl, and be part of some incredibly special moments.

But working in this environment also means being very aware of the other side of pregnancy.

The side nobody wants to talk about.

The empty space left when a much-loved baby doesn't get to come home.

Pregnancy loss touches far more families than most people realise. Behind the statistics are real people, real babies and real grief. Babies who were wanted. Babies who were loved. Babies whose absence is felt for a lifetime.

This challenge is also especially meaningful because I won't be doing it alone.

I'll be joing a team of incredible women for this challenge.  We each have our own reasons for wanting to do this, and there will be a lot of meaning behind every kilometre.

Some will probably feel easy. Some absolutely won't.

But that's okay.

Because this isn't really about running.  It's about remembering.

It's about acknowledging babies who were here, who were loved, and who mattered.

It's about supporting families who are navigating something that can feel incredibly lonely.

And it's about helping to make sure that baby loss isn't something people feel they have to suffer through in silence.

So throughout September, I'll be logging my kilometres and sharing some of the journey.

50 kilometres. One month. A lot of miles. And some very precious babies at the heart of it.

For every family who has had to leave hospital without their baby.

For every parent whose arms were left empty.

For every baby who was desperately wanted and deeply loved.

And for the families who continue to carry them with them, every single day.

This one's for you. ❤️