Bereavement Support Group Community 5K Run
Our Bereavement Community Run took place on Saturday 7 May 2022. We raised more than £6,400, with Gift Aid, which is just amazing and will help so many families who lose a twin, triplet or more.
Senior Bereavement Support Officer, Sharon Darke, shared her thoughts about this special day.
It was such a lovely day, running and remembering our precious babies. Even though we all ran individually, it felt very much like a community event. Our WhatsApp running group, with our team of 26 runners, started pinging early that morning, with Lucy, Nicky and Natalie all out and back before I was even dressed. It was so lovely to receive notifications all day and encourage each other.
As always, my husband Dominic was a great support and came along with his camera to get some action shots. I was super pleased to beat my previous time by around 10 seconds. Charlie and Joshua were spurring me on…
During my run and soon after, I continued to get notifications and messages of support from our WhatsApp group. Afterwards, I caught up all the messages with a coffee in the sunshine at the Park Run café, but not before a few photos with my very special Twins Trust BSG medal.
I am so proud of all of our runners and loved thinking of all of our babies as I ran.
We ran for all of our Twins Trust babies and especially: Eva, Evie, Roman, Isabelle, Harper Twins, Alec, Mattie and Little Twin, Charlie and Pips, Robyn, Madeleine, Brora, Pippa, Charlie, Joshua, Beri, Charlie, Nicolas, Atlas, Azalea, Grace and Yvette.
Why run for the bereavement group?
I am running the bereavement support group 5k run in memory of one of my twins Evie, who died 22 weeks into pregnancy in 2013. I also run to celebrate my survivor Rose and her little sister Scarlett.
The advice and information provided by Twins Trust at the hardest time in my life, was a real saviour for which I will always be grateful. So this is my way of giving a little bit back.
We are running the 5km for our daughter Madeleine who we lost last year after TTTS at 20 weeks. This is the first event we have completed in her memory and it has been a good challenge for us both. We hope to raise awareness of Twins Trust and the amazing work of the BSG.
We lost Isabelle in 2017 at 22 weeks after treatment for TTTS when we had a placental abruption. Isla is my survivor, she’s amazing! She is now starting to ask, “why Isabelle?” which has led me to the group.
I want to run to raise awareness of twin loss, I want to run to remember Isabelle. I miss her every day despite the time which has passed. I want to give something to help others experience loss as I can see how much the group has supported others and I am sure it will support me into the future, now I have found it.
My reason for joining the 5K is because I want to help raise money for this underfunded cause. I also want to raise more awareness of Twins Trust, so more people can come to us for support during their time of grieving.
My name is Lauren and I miscarried identical twin girls Grace and Yvette last year 13.08.21.
I started running in the first lockdown to get out of the house, completed Couch to 5K and have since then completed Train 10K as well. My fiancé and I do a lot of running together. It’s a way we can spend quality time together and get in some exercise. Last month we completed Job 50 Miles (each) for Sands. I am running the BSG 5K Community Run in memory of our baby girls who we miss more than words can explain.
I am running the BSG 5K for my daughter Pippa. She would be 16 in May this year and her surviving twin Rowan will be sitting a GSCE exam on their actual birthday so it will be nice to have something unstressful, different and totally separate from all that is going on, just for her. I have yet to do any fundraising in her memory which I have wanted to do many times but as a single, working mum coping with two children, one with autism, I just never managed it.
The opportunity to run for BSG could not have come at a better time to be a meaningful achievement for me. It will also be lovely to raise funds for BSG as I was helped so much by my befriender which I have never forgotten. I also enjoyed being a befriender and was really disappointed I couldn’t keep it going after life changed. I hope it is not too long before I am able to sart being more involved again in BSG and help keep the light of our babies still shining in this world as well as our hearts.
I’m running in memory of Alec who we lost at 34 weeks, and his surviving twin Nikolai who is now 5 months old. Before joining the Twins Trust Bereavement Support Group I felt no one but my partner would understand my grief, but the kindness of others who have sadly had similar experiences has helped me recognise I am not alone. I’m running to raise awareness for other families coping the with the loss of multiples so they can also benefit from this wonderful charity.
I am running for our daughter Brora who died at 29 weeks in August 2021. Joining the BSG has helped me feel seen and understood. In the hardest time in our lives it has been so important to feel supported in a safe space. This is my first time taking part in a BSG event and I hope to make more people aware of the amazing work the BSG does for parents who have experienced the unthinkable.
I am running to honour our twin boys Atlas and Azalea that carried to 17 weeks. They gained their wings January 12th and now carry in my heart every day every step, ever run but especially on this run. I want to use this run to help myself and others realise they are not alone and raise awareness about parental bereavement. This group has helped about parental bereavement. This group has helped me feel comfortable in my own process of grieving by providing a non-judgmental and supportive environment. I’m so glad I found it.
I’m running for my twin boys Charlie and Nicolas with their older brother Michael. I had a high risk twin pregnancy known at my 12 week scan in early 2015. My boys were sharing the same placenta and one was smaller than the other. At 17 weeks I had laser surgery to cut the blood vessels they were sharing. At 19 weeks we lost the heartbeat of the smallest and named him Charlie, and Nicholas the hopeful survivor.
I found out about the bereavement support group and requested to join the Facebook group. The 20 week scan Nicholas was doing well but a week later when going to the midwife we had lost his heartbeat too. I was able on that Friday to contact Sharon who provided me with a befriender whom I was able to chat with ahead of giving birth to the boys on the Sunday. I joined the Facebook group and have gone to a memorial service meeting with the group.
Sarah
We are running in memory of our beautiful daughter Robyn who died at 28 weeks in June 2019. Shortly after giving birth to Robyn and her surviving twin sister Annie, Twins Trust put me in touch with a befriender who has been a massive support for me ever since. There aren’t many people that understand our unique situation and I’m so thankful to have her to talk to.
I am running the bereavement support group 5k run in memory of Charlie and Joshua, and all our Twins Trust babies. Charlie and Joshua were born 22 years ago at 26 weeks and lived for 7 and 13 days. I have chosen to run for our bereavement group as it has helped me so much over the years and it is a charity very close to my heart.
This will be the third time for me running the BSG run and I take my inspiration from every parent in our community and knowing the support we offer at Twins Trust may be able to help and support families with their grief.
If you would like to talk to us about doing your own fundraising, setting off on your very own challenge with your friends, family or colleagues or you are taking part in an event that is local to you, please contact [email protected].