Samantha McCauley

I’m running 50k in September in honor of Lani Faith Burrows

Why I chose to run 50K for Sands 🤍

Almost a year ago, my beautiful friends lost their little girl, Lani, and their worlds were changed forever.

Watching people you love navigate something so heartbreaking is difficult. Sometimes, as an outsider, you don’t know what to say or how to make things even a tiny bit easier. There is no fixing this kind of pain, but I wanted to find a way to show them that they don’t have to carry it feeling alone.

So I chose to run 50K this September for Sands — in honor of Lani, and in honor of her parents who have to find a way forward while carrying a loss that will never leave them.

I wanted to remind my friends that because Lani is a part of them, she matters to me too. She deserves to be remembered, spoken about and loved. And they deserve to know that they are thought about, supported and surrounded by love, even on the days when words aren’t enough.

I also wanted to raise awareness of the importance of speaking out and reaching for support. Organisations like Sands provide such important support to families navigating baby loss, and nobody should feel that they have to suffer silently.

And for me, running has been a reminder of the power of movement during difficult times. Exercise can help regulate our nervous system, create moments where our bodies feel safe, and give us a way to process emotions that sometimes feel too big for words.

Every kilometre I’ve run this month has been for Lani. 🤍

Not to change what happened, because I can’t.

But to remember her.

To honour her.

To remind my friends that they are loved.

And to make sure that Lani’s beautiful little life continues to be spoken about and remembered.

For Lani. Always. 🕊️🤍