Myself and 7 friends (Billy Cook, Steven Anderson, Jack McLintock, David Purdon, Aaron Harwood, Jamie Scott & Chris Scott) are undertaking the West Highland Way in September 2021. Walking 96 miles from Milngavie in Glasgow, to Fort William. This is my annual fundraising event to remember my son Gabriel and help raise vital funds for SiMBA. In 2020 we raised over £10,000 to help provide a new family room in the Royal Alexandria Hospital and this year we're aiming to make at least £2,000 which will go towards general funds for the charity and help pay for memory boxes for bereaved families. Our story is below, please give generously and thank you.

Our beautiful baby son, Gabriel, was born on Wednesday 17th of June 2020, but we never got to take him home.  We have never known pain like it.  What pain could be worse than your baby dying before they have even lived?  A life unlived, memories unmade, laughter unheard... all the hopes and dreams we had for our family turned to ashes.

The only pain worse would be if we had nothing of Gabriel.  Many years ago this was the case for families like ours.  The baby would be whisked away quickly, un-named, unmarked and unmourned by anyone except their stricken parents.  This is how SiMBA came to be.  A group of families came together to change things.  Why should their precious babies go unacknowledged and the depth of their grief be denied?  

Thanks to SiMBA, we have a memory box and in that box are some of the most important things we possess.  Treasures such as a lock of Gabriels hair in a little box, hand prints and foot prints on paper and imprints in clay in a nice frame to keep them safe.  We have the twin of the little blue knitted teddy which is keeping Gabriel company on the next part of his journey.  We have beautiful photographs.  Lots of little things which mean so much because they are physical links to Gabriel, and will help us to remember just how small and perfect and beautiful he was and will always be.  SiMBA provide these boxes in 3 versions to be appropriate for all stages of pregnancy loss; to acknowledge the existence of even the tiniest little babies and the love they took with them.

So many people have expressed their love and wish to help since Gabriel was born and this is how.  Help us to help other families who are living out their worst nightmare.  Help us to make sure Gabriel makes a positive impact on the world.  Help us to make sure he is remembered as the unique, beautiful and wonderful little human he was.

Thank you for any contribution you can make to this great cause.  Where the wee man himself has lead, let many others follow...

Laura & Jonathan 

xxx