Coast to Coast Bike Ride for Jude
Donation protected
On 14th September 2016, what should have been an immensely happy time in our lives was in fact the worst experience as parents we could have. We were expecting our third child Jude, who at full term, was stillborn in York District Hospital. So instead of planning his homecoming we were left planning his funeral.
The horrifying fact is that on average 17 families A DAY in the UK will suffer the trauma of a stillbirth or neonatal death (where a baby dies prior to one month old).
We will always be parents to three children and it is from this love that we passionately want to create a legacy for Jude. We want to thank and support some of the amazing charities that have helped us in these dark times by raising much needed funds. Their continuing support to us and other bereaved families is a real life line and help us get through each day.
We are underway with planning a three day 170 mile Coast to Coast bike ride from Morecambe to Bridlington on Thur 22/06/17 to Sat 24/06/17. We have over 23 confirmed bikers who are willing to give up three days of their time to join Matthew and a further 9 bikers joining the Saturday leg (York to Bridlington). Let's hope they all turn up! It's hard to put into words how delighted we are that family and friends are rallying round to add their names (I'm not sure they know what they are letting themselves in for.)
We are hoping to raise money for three local Yorkshire charities who have helped us and are close to our heart. These are:
1) York SANDS - Stillbirth and Neonatal death society which is run by volunteers. They support families and provide a special SANDS room at York hospital for families away from newborn babies and women in labour. They are looking to build a new room in York hospital this year. (www.sands.org.uk)
2) 4Louis - this voluntary charity provides memory boxes to bereaved parents or families at York hospital. We are so thankful we received our memory box as we were given beautiful keepsakes (an angel, teddy's for our older children and candles) and moulds to create hand and foot prints. Jude's memory box was provided at a time we were experiencing huge trauma. They thought of special keepsakes when we were not in a place to think straight. As time was so limited they have helped us as a family, to create beautiful memories with Jude. (www.4louis.co.uk)
3) Our Angels who again are a voluntary charity provide support to bereaved parents. They have been a real life line for us on this lonely, isolating journey. One of their recent projects was Our Angels co-hosting a training day for 400 midwives at Bradford university. They were mentored on Baby Loss and Bereavement Care and I had the opportunity to attend the event. It was a very moving day and Our Angels received amazing feedback following the conference. (www.ourangelscharity.co.uk)
Any contribution that you make is greatly appreciated not just by us but also by the many other families that unfortunately will go through same experience that we have and will benefit from these charities.
Thank you for your support.
Matt and Bronagh
The horrifying fact is that on average 17 families A DAY in the UK will suffer the trauma of a stillbirth or neonatal death (where a baby dies prior to one month old).
We will always be parents to three children and it is from this love that we passionately want to create a legacy for Jude. We want to thank and support some of the amazing charities that have helped us in these dark times by raising much needed funds. Their continuing support to us and other bereaved families is a real life line and help us get through each day.
We are underway with planning a three day 170 mile Coast to Coast bike ride from Morecambe to Bridlington on Thur 22/06/17 to Sat 24/06/17. We have over 23 confirmed bikers who are willing to give up three days of their time to join Matthew and a further 9 bikers joining the Saturday leg (York to Bridlington). Let's hope they all turn up! It's hard to put into words how delighted we are that family and friends are rallying round to add their names (I'm not sure they know what they are letting themselves in for.)
We are hoping to raise money for three local Yorkshire charities who have helped us and are close to our heart. These are:
1) York SANDS - Stillbirth and Neonatal death society which is run by volunteers. They support families and provide a special SANDS room at York hospital for families away from newborn babies and women in labour. They are looking to build a new room in York hospital this year. (www.sands.org.uk)
2) 4Louis - this voluntary charity provides memory boxes to bereaved parents or families at York hospital. We are so thankful we received our memory box as we were given beautiful keepsakes (an angel, teddy's for our older children and candles) and moulds to create hand and foot prints. Jude's memory box was provided at a time we were experiencing huge trauma. They thought of special keepsakes when we were not in a place to think straight. As time was so limited they have helped us as a family, to create beautiful memories with Jude. (www.4louis.co.uk)
3) Our Angels who again are a voluntary charity provide support to bereaved parents. They have been a real life line for us on this lonely, isolating journey. One of their recent projects was Our Angels co-hosting a training day for 400 midwives at Bradford university. They were mentored on Baby Loss and Bereavement Care and I had the opportunity to attend the event. It was a very moving day and Our Angels received amazing feedback following the conference. (www.ourangelscharity.co.uk)
Any contribution that you make is greatly appreciated not just by us but also by the many other families that unfortunately will go through same experience that we have and will benefit from these charities.
Thank you for your support.
Matt and Bronagh
Organizer
Bronagh Thompson
Organizer
