This week (October 9-15) is Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Sands, the charity that leads Baby Loss Awareness Week, works to save babies’ lives and support bereaved families.
The awareness week is a time for the baby loss community and beyond to come together, to remember much-loved and missed babies and raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss.
It is represented by its blue and pink ribbon logo, an image that has inspired ribbon displays across the UK.
In Westgate Sands supporter and bereaved mum, Katie Wells-Hursey, will be giving other bereaved families in the town the opportunity to come together and has teamed up with Nicola Bradshaw of Little Brown Fairy Cake in Station Road to mark the week.
Blue, pink and white ribbons displaying the names of the babies being remembered will be added to the Little Brown Fairy Cake shop for all to see for the week. People can also visit the shop during its opening hours to add their own personalised ribbon to the display. Ribbons will be provided in-store.
There will be special pink and blue cupcakes on sale throughout the week, with a small amount from the sale of each cupcake being donated to Sands.
Posters with a fundraising link for Sands will be on display in the shop, and the link can also be accessed here (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/katie-wells0409)
The store is open Tuesday – Thursday & Saturday 9am to 4pm, Friday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 10am to 2pm (Closed Mondays).
Katie said: “Having lost our little boy, Aidan, at 13 days old in September 2022, I personally know how important charities such as Sands are.
“The loss of a baby or pregnancy is heart-breaking, and this is happening to families across the UK everyday. During Baby Loss Awareness Week, I wanted to create a special display to remember all the babies lost, whether recently or long ago.
“I hope the display raises awareness and breaks the silence surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, it is impacting so many people in our community, I hope it starts conversations.
“All money raised from the display will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care.”
Ribbon Run
On Saturday (October 14) Westgate resident Wilfred Jenkins, accompanied by friend and fellow resident Sabrina Ryan, will take part in a sponsored Sands Ribbon Run, walking from Little Brown Fairy Cake to Margate and back again.
Wilfred is deaf and autistic and has become a bit of a Thanet celebrity through his attendance at isle events, charity fundraising, volunteering and social media posts which include regular sign language videos.
The 27-year-old is completing the walk in memory of his old brother Jack who was born prematurely in 1994 and sadly lived for just two hours. He would have been 29 this December.
Wilfred said: “ I want to do (the Ribbon Run) for my big brother Jack that I have sadly lost when he was a baby
“And I also wanted to do this in memory of the other babies that my friends has sadly lost like Joshua, Joanna and Bobby.”
Find Wilfred’s Ribbon Run fundraising page by clicking here
Margate ribbons
East Kent Sands is also organising a ribbon display in Margate.
Blue, pink and white ribbons displaying the names of the babies being remembered will be added to the railings on Marine Terrace opposite Dreamland for all to see from today until October 15.
People are encouraged to add their baby names to one of the ribbons tied to the railings,
An East Kent Sands spokesperson said: “We hope the display raises awareness and breaks the silence surrounding baby and pregnancy loss, it is impacting so many people in our community, we hope it starts conversations.
“All money raised from the display will go to Sands, so they can continue to support families and reduce baby deaths, by investing in research and championing better maternity care.”
Football game
A special football fixture will be played on October 15 between Sands United FC Thanet and Sands United FC Kent.
Margate Football Club is allowing the teams to use the Hartsdown pitch and facilities for the game.
Kick off is at 7.30pm
Wave of Light
On October 16 at 7pm there is also a Thanet organised Wave of Light (candle lighting) via facebook live. Find the event page at: https://www.facebook.com/events/702710554602097
Anyone who needs the support of Sands can find more information at www.sands.org.uk