As you know Cees runs. A lot. On the 22nd June 2019 he is undertaking his craziest run yet. The Spine Race. A non-stop, 7 day, 268 mile (431km) race from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. Running is his passion and so sponsorship isn't something he usually requests however our recent family events mean this epic race takes on extra special meaning.

Early this year we were estatic to discover that we were expecting boy/girl twin babies. Unfortunately at our 12 week scan we were told that our girl twin was likely very poorly. What followed was two month's of unknowns, tests, procedures, scans and appointments at the Fetal Medicine Unit at the RVI in Newcastle. Unfortunately our girl twin died at 17 weeks due to a genetic translocation.

The unpredictable nature of Fetal Medicine means we spent a lot of time waiting in one of their three counselling rooms. Unfortunately these rooms are often the location you hear the news no parent wants to ever hear - that your unborn child has a serious medicine condition. Sadly in cases like ours they also become the setting where you learn your unborn child's life has ended.

Presently the counselling rooms are hospital formal in style with simple table and chairs and artwork that have been placed with the best intentions but are dated and not the most cheery.

Every single one of the amazing Fetal Medicine staff we encountered showed us such compassion and kindness that the unit deserves to be able to offer the same empathetic environment to deliver news, good and bad, as their work ethos.

All sponsorship received for Cees completing The Spine Race will go towards the costs of refurbishing the counselling rooms. Their aim is to to make them softer in decoration with sympathetic lighting, furniture and artwork to create a homely setting.

Contributing will also leave a little legacy for our girl twin who we won't get to take home with her brother but who we will never forget.