18 years ago, I lost my daughter Maisie, who was stillborn.

It was an incredibly difficult time in my life, and running became one of the ways I processed some of that grief. That year, I took on the Great South Run.

Now, 18 years later, I’m returning to the same event, but this time I won’t be doing it alone.

On 18 October, my 17-year-old son Jasper will be running alongside me.

I turned 50 this year and Maisie would have been 18, so it felt like the right time to do something meaningful to mark that milestone. Returning to the Great South Run with Jasper feels like things have come full circle, and I know crossing that finish line together will be a very special and emotional moment.

We’ll be running in memory of Maisie, but also in recognition of all the other babies who have been lost through miscarriage, stillbirth and other forms of pregnancy and baby loss, and the families who continue to carry that loss with them.

We’re raising money for Muma Nurture, a wonderful Eastbourne charity supporting people through fertility challenges, perinatal mental health difficulties and pregnancy and baby loss.

I’ve come to know Muma Nurture through our work with the charity at Stagecoach South East, and I wanted the money we raise to support a smaller local charity doing incredibly important work for families in the communities we serve.

As for the running itself, I’m expecting it to be a challenge! Jasper is significantly fitter than me, our training hasn’t exactly gone to plan, and after one recent 11km run I could barely walk properly afterwards.

But we’ll get there together.

If you’re able to support us, every donation, however big or small, will go towards helping Muma Nurture continue to be there for people and families when they need support most.

Thank you for supporting us, for supporting Muma Nurture, and for helping us remember Maisie and all the other babies who are no longer with us.

Joel & Jasper