2 April 2025

As Rosa runs her first half marathon in London, she’ll be thinking of her precious daughter, Maeve. Maeve was a twin and died when Rosa was 24 weeks pregnant.

Rosa signed up for the London Landmarks Half Marathon as she wanted to raise money for Twins Trust in honour of Maeve. She said: “Being pregnant with dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins, we were told it was the lowest-risk twin pregnancy, but sadly, nothing could prepare us for losing Maeve. There are no words to describe that pain, but we choose to keep her memory alive with love and joy.”

Rosa discovered the Twins Trust Bereavement Service following a recommendation from her midwife. In the bereavement service Facebook group, she found other families who had experienced loss and she felt less alone as she read their stories. She added: “I first heard about the Twins Trust Bereavement Service through our incredible bereavement midwife, Amanda, at Southend Hospital. She gave us the details when we found out our Maeve had passed at 24 weeks. “I joined the Facebook group straight away - mostly as a silent reader rather than actively joining in conversations. Just reading others’ experiences and knowing we weren’t alone brought comfort during such a heartbreaking time.”

Keeping Maeve’s legacy alive is important for the family and Rosa, who is new to running, said she is doing the challenge in memory of her daughter. Rosa lives in Southend with her husband, two children and their crazy Cocker Spaniel, Daisy, who has even enjoyed keeping the pace on a few training runs. Speaking about the challenge, she said "I’ve signed up to raise money for Twins Trust to help save babies’ lives and support families who go through the heartbreak of losing a baby/babies from a multiple pregnancy. It’s also a personal challenge for me - I’ve never been what you’d call a runner.”

But most importantly, I’m doing this for Maeve. To keep her memory alive, to celebrate her, and to thank her for shaping me into the person I am today. I know she’ll be with me every step of the way.

Training has been going well for Rosa, including taking a scenic route running along the seafront. It also gives her time to reflect on her baby loss journey and to remember Maeve.

As runners flock to the capital for the big day at the start of April, Rosa will be there at the start line of the 13-mile route, ready to run past some of the capital’s landmarks, from Big Ben to Tower Bridge. She added: “This will be my first half marathon, and I’m lucky it’s the London Landmarks with such a great route. I’ve got a whole crew of friends and family coming out to support me along the way, which means so much. What I’m most looking forward to is seeing my children’s faces as I run - it’s going to be such a special moment.”

Rosa has raised £1,045 for Twins Trust, smashing her £500 goal. Support Rosa’s fundraising by making a donation today.