Susan Burgess

Thankyou!

As usual…i left it to the very last minute, but I just completed the last 5km of running 50km in September. 

Nearly one year ago, I completed Couch to 5K.  At the time, I honestly never believed I'd be able to do it. Yet here I am today, having completed 50K in a month for Sands, a charity that is incredibly close to my heart.

Running 50K might not sound extraordinary to some people, but for me it is. I travel a lot for work, so it has meant taking my trainers everywhere, finding time when I can, and staying committed even when life gets busy and I got sick. 

There are two things that got me through every kilometre: my family and the music of Dermot Kennedy 

My family have been behind me every step of the way, and I couldn't have done this without them. And they are fed up of hearing Dermot's voice but it’s his lyrics that have somehow spoken to parts of me that I didn't even realise still needed healing.

“The rain it ain’t permanent and soon we will dancing in the sun”  reminds me that even in our darkest moments, there will be better days ahead. That message has stayed with me through some difficult times because it's true. No matter how hard things feel, they do change.

“A life that never knew the dark, seems to me a life less true”. We all experience sorrow in different ways and for me Running has given me space to process this sorrow. I have never hidden the fact that I've struggled with my mental health at different times in my life, particularly following the loss of my babies and during periods of postpartum depression. There were times when “the nights felt endless” and the weight of everything felt too much.

But what I've learned is that with time and love “that burden loses hold of your heart”. 

And that's one of the reasons supporting Sands means so much to me. The loss of two babies will always be part of my story. The sadness doesn't disappear. But alongside that sadness, I am incredibly grateful for my wonderful husband, who supports me every day, and for our three beautiful children, who bring so much joy and noise to our lives. And my incredible friends. Though you are few, you  bring so much joy to my life. 

To everyone who has sponsored me, thank you.

I find it difficult asking people for money, but every pound will help support families who are navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

Your support means more than I can put into words.

Thank you for being part of this journey.

Why I am running 50km for Sands

This September, I am taking on the challenge of running 50km to raise money for Sands, a charity that means an enormous amount to me personally.

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself reflecting deeply on the impact of losing two of my babies. My second lost baby was almost 20 weeks when she passed away, and I was admitted to hospital a few days later.  The care and compassion I received from the nursing team was extraordinary, but one memory from that night has stayed with me.

Because there is no separation in the wards I lay awake for hours listening to women around me giving birth and hearing their babies cry when all I wanted was to hear my own baby crying. It is a feeling I will never forget.

No parent should have to experience the loss of a baby, and no one should have to navigate the devastating grief that follows without the right support. 

I am running 50km because I want to turn something so painful in my own life into something positive;  raising awareness and funds to help Sands ensure that bereaved parents receive the care, understanding and support they deserve.

If you are able to sponsor me, every donation will help support a cause that is incredibly close to my heart. ❤️