In 2016 we were blessed with our beautiful baby girl Iris. Sadly we never got the chance to spend this life with her and enjoy watching her grow up as she was stillborn on 8th September 2016.

Having been deemed "low risk" we had no idea what was about to hit us later on in pregnancy. And as it turned out, very little knowledge or awareness of baby loss.

From the moment we arrived in the Hope Butler suite* at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, despite the horrendous situation, we were able to feel a sense of peace. It's hard to find the words which will do justice to the amazing care we received both from the midwifery team and the Tunbridge Wells SANDS group.

We want to raise money so we can do our part in helping Tunbridge Wells SANDS provide that same care to others that we were fortunate enough to receive ourselves. We feel that we would have had a very different experience if it wasn't for them, despite our utter heartbreak they enabled us to have the most precious 48 hours with our daughter.

We know very little about the reason for her stillbirth, as is the case for many in our situation. In supporting SANDS you are helping to ensure their excellent care can continue, as well as their work to raise awareness of Stillbirth and Neonatal death and funding research to help prevent the loss of babies’ lives.

So as we set ourselves a series of challenges and raise as much money as possible, we do it all for Iris.

Thank you for reading.

David & Amy xxx

(Proud Mummy & Daddy to Iris Rose Perkins)

* this is the bereavement suite within the maternity area