Simba Charity

On April 19th 2026, myself & Liam Marriss will be running the Manchester marathon in memory of my beautiful baby Finley. As many know, on April 18th 2021 my beautiful wife gave birth to our sleeping Finley, it was the hardest thing to ever happen to us and he’s always been thought about every single day. Simba is a small charity that helps families going through what we went through by giving them memory boxes to treasure forever, including things like a lock of hair, hand a feet prints and so much more items you can cherish forever. and that helped us so much, we have always wanted to be able to raise money in memory of Finley for Simba but never knew the right thing to do. The marathon is the perfect thing as it’s a day after his what would’ve been 5th birthday, it’s mentally and physically challenging for myself to do as a larger person with no running experience but a lot of will and determination to raise money for a wonderful charity. Every donation will help so thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Simba Charity: Our goal is simple, to honour babies who have died during pregnancy or around the time of birth. At Simba we respond to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby. We help families create precious memories and offer beautiful ways to honour and remember their baby, now and always. Simba is about memories.

On Sunday 18th May, I will be running the Goring Gap Ultra Marathon in memory of my girl Saoirse. She would have been 9 this year and every year, it surprises me how brutal the loss hits. Someone once said to me "don't worry, after a while you wont even think about her". I won't tell you my reply.

I have struggled to write an answer to the 'why are you raising money?' question for weeks. I have gone from feeling determined to raise an obscene amount of money for our memory box charity to chastising myself for even daring to believe I could raise even a penny. I have written and deleted and written and deleted over and over but eventually settled on this:

I left the hospital on the 5th April 2014 with, what I now affectionately refer to as, 'my f*****g memory box'. Saoirse was stillborn at full term and instead of carrying my beautiful baby girl home, I got into that lift carrying that thing, pressed that button while those two strangers watched with inquisitive horror. When I got home I sat on the floor, put the box in front of me and I cried and cried.

I couldn't open the box for many years, I'm not sure I could tell you what is still in it. I hated it. But on the day she was born I opened it and there were two little teddies. One to go in with her and one to come home with me. Mine is called 'mummy bear' and Rocco sleeps with it every night. Also in the box was a pink scratchy blanket, hand knitted by a kind stranger, which I put back almost instantly. A few years ago I opened the box and my goodness the smell. For someone who suffers with PTSD that trigger was immense but I left the blanket out and I now sleep with it on my chest every night.

I don't really hate the memory box anymore, in fact I’m rather fond of it and am ever so grateful to have these bittersweet keepsakes with us daily.

It horrifies me that there are still families who need memory boxes but even more horrifying is knowing that some families don't receive them at all because this beautiful small Scottish charity can no longer operate in England due to lack of funding.

So in two weeks I will be running to raise money for Simba to say thank you for my memory box in a time of desperate sadness, and I will be running to make my daughter and my sons proud of me. I know on the day she will be looking down on me and excitedly saying to her angel friends "see that one there? That's my mummy!"

Thank you xx

More information about Simba Charity: Our goal is simple, to honour babies who have died during pregnancy or around the time of birth. At Simba we respond to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby. We help families create precious memories and offer beautiful ways to honour and remember their baby, now and always. Simba is about memories.

Hi Im planning this fundraiser for SIMBA a charity that supports families that have lost their babies by creating precious memories to help those that are grieving. I had no idea this charity existed until the end of September when I experienced the loss of an ectopic pregnancy. I had to have an emergency surgery to remove the pregnancy and my right fallopian tube to which I'm sure you can imagine how heartbreaking this was for us. I had lost not only my baby but also part of myself as well. I was treated so kindly by the doctors, nurses and staff. After my surgery, we recieved a memory box from SIMBA and I would like to give something back to them for providing us with this memory so they can continue to support families like ours.

By donating to this fundraiser you will be entered into a prize draw that will take place once the target has been met.

There are lots of great prizes to be won such as hair, nails, beauty and food vouchers. It's all in aid of a great cause.

https://www.facebook.com/share/NHr1YBPwAeBrXzVc/

In September we are going to take part in the Belfast half marathon to help raise money for The Simba Memory Box Appeal

The Simba memory boxes really give so much comfort to parents but also to the entire family, they had 2 little teddies. When we told our eldest daughter her little sister, who she was so excited to meet, wasn't going to be able to come home, we were able to give her one of the teddies from her sister and her sister has hers in her arms up in heaven, that was priceless and is something she uses regularly when she wants to cuddle or misses her sister.

At such a horrible time you have so much going through your head, we wouldn't have even thought to get all the little keepsakes this box provides, our box had a little box for her hair, for doing hand prints and footprints, 2 butterfly charms (one on baby Alicia's chest and one on my nacklace), 2 teddies (one with Alicia and one for us) and so so much more.

Thank you Simba for providing the most precious memories for all our family!

Do you want to join me in making a difference? I'm raising money in aid of Simpsons Memory Box Appeal and every donation will help. Thank you in advance for your contribution to this cause that means so much to me.

More information about Simpsons Memory Box Appeal: Our goal is simple, to honour babies who have died during pregnancy or around the time of birth. At SiMBA we respond to the needs of those affected by the loss of a baby. We help families create precious memories and offer beautiful ways to honour and remember their baby, now and always. SiMBA is about memories