Couch to 50K - SW Coast Challenge

Parents describe losing their baby as the most painful and heartbreaking experience mentally and emotionally. They live every day after in grief, and their heart is in turmoil.

Rest With Joseph and Friends is a registered charity set up to give comfort to parents by the provision of a dedicated burial garden to lay to rest their sleeping baby Angel born through a late miscarriage. They also have the vision of a memorial garden for all babies born sleeping before 24 weeks. 

From being overwhelmed and overjoyed seeing a positive pregnancy test, parents are left feeling joy, hope and happiness. Seeing and hearing their baby’s heartbeat on the scans and being told they are having a boy or a girl confirms they have a son or a daughter. Feelings that we can relate to.

For some, tragically, this joy is lost.

The birth of a sleeping baby becomes the most haunting and devastating day with the tragic words heard: I’m sorry, there is no heartbeat.’

This day stays with them forever. Parents will never know the colour of their eyes, what facial expressions they will pull, or be able to recognise their voice, laughter or cry. The pain of this was and still is unbearable to many.

Mums and Dads are holding their babies still in their arms. They see them, but their baby cannot stare back into their eyes.

Feelings of guilt, the what ifs and failure seem endless. Even more distressing, giving birth pre 24 weeks, in the eyes of the world and law, their baby does not exist. They cannot register their baby's birth with them being named parents. They know they have a son or daughter, but records will show they never existed without an official birth certificate. They are left feeling lonely and isolated and are suffering in silence. A child is missing from their family tree.

With no registered birth, there can be no registered death. Parents all say hello from the first scan and are left not knowing how to say goodbye.

August 6th 2022 will see Kay, Cofounder of Rest With Joseph and Friends (Joseph’s Mum, who tragically lost her son at 23weeks) dressed as a monkey taking part in the South West 50 Ultra Challenge.

She is literally Couch to 50K and has given herself 4 weeks of preparation!

Walking different terrains along the SW Coast and Exmoor whilst climbing an elevation of 1600 metres, Kay's determination is not only to raise awareness, but also funds for a plot of land to allow the parents of these babies a place to lay them to rest. Each step is walked for all babies lost -  past, present and future.

Funds raised will provide parents, family and friends a recognisable place of rest for individual healing and reflection, but also to give comfort that their baby is in an angel community, all dancing and playing together. A garden to give their baby recognition, existence and a place in this world where they will never be forgotten.

Please help these grieving parents by donating. Any amount will go a long way and will help.

Be part of our journey and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @restwothjosephandfriends and visit our website for further information – www.restwithjospehandfriends.co.uk

From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you. x