Transform Lives After Baby Loss: February Fitness Fundraiser
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1 in 4 pregnancies end in loss. Every day in the UK, 428 babies are lost to miscarriage, 8 babies are stillborn, and 5 babies die within the first 28 days of being born. Despite this, there is little support available. Baby loss is devastating, isolating, and life-changing, leaving many people feeling alone and without the support they need.
That’s why Jess Waugh created the not-for-profit organisation Branch Baby Loss Network CIC following the loss of her son, Louis. She wanted to create a place that connects people who’ve experienced pregnancy loss, baby loss or infertility, to smash the isolation surrounding these experiences. What started as a WhatsApp community in summer 2024 has quickly grown into 50 groups for all different experiences and stages of loss, connecting hundreds of bereaved parents right across the UK, with chat groups and meet ups so no one has to face baby loss alone.
But WhatsApp has its limits. The community can’t grow much further due to platform restrictions, and its features can’t fully support everything our families need. We’ve been given an exciting opportunity to change that by developing the first-ever app of its kind, designed to connect and support families after baby loss across the UK and beyond. This app will:
• Allow bereaved parents to easily connect with others who have similar experiences of loss or live near to them.
• Enable us to provide peer support, expert support resources, and online events - all in one place.
• Enable us to reach even more people and provide them with a safe space to grieve and heal with a community of others who get it.
All we need is £5,000 to make this happen and launch the first beta version of the app — and you can help us get there.
How You Can Get Involved
This February, join our 5k Fitness Fundraiser and help us raise the funds we need to transform lives after baby loss. Here’s how:
1) Take on a fitness challenge
Run, swim, cycle, walk, or choose any activity you love. Whether it’s 5 kilometres, 5 hours, or 500 push-ups, it’s up to you! Or perhaps you have a local marathon coming up? Run it for Branch!
2) Get Fundraising!
After you’ve picked your fitness challenge simply share this page with your friends and family. Post it on social media and in your WhatsApp groups. Let everyone know why you’re fundraising, what challenge you’re taking on, and how they can donate.
3) Join the team
If you’d like to get your own unique fundraising link to track the donations you raise, you can do this by becoming a team member. This will also allow you to post updates and thank your supporters directly on this page. It’s quick and easy to become a team member. How’s how:
2. Sign in or create a GoFundMe account.
3. Share your unique fundraiser link with your network to raise funds. Every penny raised through your link contributes to the team total!
4) Donate
If it’s not possible for you to take part in our fitness fundraiser right now, you can still make a massive difference by making a donation and sharing this page. Every share, donation, and effort to spread the word helps us raise vital funds for Branch to support bereaved families.
Join our live fitness classes!
Throughout February, we’re also hosting some super special online wellness and fitness sessions for both the baby loss community- and beyond!- including yoga, pilates, relaxation sessions and more!
You can purchase tickets and see all our events on Eventbrite here.
Here's what's in store:
Online Yoga and Social with Yoga Social Club
When? Saturday 1st March at 12-1pm
Where: Online (zoom), and on demand after if you can't make it live
Who for: Anyone!
Cost: pay what you can / suggested donation: £10
Book Tickets: Please book on Eventbrite here
We’re thrilled to partner with the incredible Yoga Social Club, who have generously offered to host an online yoga session for us, with an online social afterwards for anyone who wants to stay for a chat. All proceeds will go directly towards our cause. Chrissie founded Yoga Social Club following personal experience of pregnancy loss, and is the perfect person to bring us together and lead this restorative session.
Relaxation Session by Sophie - Yoga and Hypnobirthing teacher and Rainbow Clinic Midwife
When? TBC
Where: Online (zoom), and on demand after if you can't make it live
Who for: This is a special session just for those who've experienced pregnancy loss, baby loss and infertility
Cost: pay what you can afford / suggested donation: £10
Eventbrite Booking Link: (coming soon!)
Join Sophie for a 45 minute relaxation session encompassing the use of basic yoga moves, breathing techniques and relaxation practices to enable you to take a moment for yourself and every day stresses.
The session will start with some breathing exercises, followed by some gentle yoga poses and ending with a relaxation exercises.
A WHOLE WEEK of online daily fitness classes by Lorna Marie Fitness
When? Monday 17th February until Sunday 23rd February.
Where: Online (zoom), and on demand after if you can't make it live
Who for: Anyone!
Cost: Pay what you can afford / suggested donation: £25 for all 10 classes
Book tickets: Click here to book tickets on eventbrite
Join fitness instructor Lorna, founder of Lorna Marie Fitness, for a week of at least 10 live workout classes - with a mix of holistic, cardio & strength classes, such as yoga, pilates, yogascape (Lorna’s own wonderful creation - think yoga choreographed to music), combat, hiit, zumba, dance fitness & weights classes.
The week begins on Monday 17th February and runs right through til Sunday 23rd February. There are 2 x 20 minute live classes each weekday morning.
Lorna says: "We are so pleased to be collaborating with Branch Baby Loss for this special February Fitness Fundraiser."
Inspire Fitness - Pilates Class
When? Tuesday 11th February at 7pm.
Where: Online (zoom), and on demand after if you can't make it live
Who for: This is a special session just for those who've experienced pregnancy loss, baby loss and infertility
Cost: Pay what you can / suggested donation: £10
Book Tickets: Click here to book tickets on Eventbrite
Join Leila, a member of our Branch community and founder of Little Wings of Hope CIC, for a 45 minute pilates class.
Leila says:
"I’m truly honoured to be supporting the Branch February Fitness fundraiser with a 45 minute pilates session.
As a mat Pilates instructor & founder of Inspire Fitness & Pilates, my goal is to help women feel energised and empowered through movement. We’ll be glowing through Pilates, using gentle yet strengthening exercises to support both body and mind.
This cause is very close to my heart, and I’m looking forward to connecting with everyone for a meaningful and supportive session. See you there "
For all our sessions, please wear comfy clothes and have a towel, water and an exercise mat to hand if you have one.
How to Join Our February Fitness Sessions
All tickets can be purchased for a donation of your choice here
If you take on a fitness challenge and fundraise over £100 you can attend ALL our sessions for free!
Why This Fundraiser Matters
Baby loss can be an incredibly isolating experience, but no one should have to go through it alone. This app will provide a lifeline for thousands of bereaved families right across the UK, offering a free space to connect, heal, and find the support they so desperately need.
With your help, we can make this groundbreaking app a reality and ensure no one faces pregnancy loss, baby loss or infertility without a community behind them.
Together, we can transform lives. Will you join us?
Take part in the February 5k Fitness Fundraiser and help us reach our £5,000 goal.
£5,000 will enable us to pay developers to produce the beta version of the app, featuring a searchable community with unlimited members and unlimited chat groups.
£10,000 will enable us to launch the app and use it to connect our community PLUS host events and meet ups from within the app.
£15,000 will enable us to launch the app and use it to connect our community and host events and meet ups PLUS provide expert support resources in the app to help bereaved parents navigate their grief.
Every step, stretch, or mile you complete takes us closer to launching the first-ever app of its kind. Together, we can make sure no one has to go through the devastation of pregnancy loss, baby loss or infertility alone.
Thank you so much,
Jess and Team Branch xxx
Mitorganisatoren (2)
Branch Baby Loss Network CIC
Organisator
Jess Waugh
Mitorganisator