Starting on Sunday 7 July I will be cycling the 600 miles from the most southerly to the most northerly points in Ireland, over 7 days.

I have on a few occasions previously raised money for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, and for this latest cycling challenge I have been unsure to ask people to donate money yet again. (Please also see note at the foot of this page).

However raising awareness about baby death is a hugely important to me and a Just Giving page for Sands is one way to do so. I once asked a consultant obstetrician what can we do to reduce the inordinately high number of baby deaths in the UK, he said it needs parents like you to go out and tell their story to break down the stigma associated with baby death.

On 9 January 1989 our daughter Siobhan Elizabeth, was stillborn. My wife, Jo, was 42 weeks pregnant and the night before Jo was to be induced Siobhan's little heart stopped beating. 35 years on Siobhan remains forever a part of our family, we have three children its just one is no longer here with us! I think of her every day with many 'what ifs' and 'if onlys'. Over the years I have learned how to live with the feelings of grief and to see the gifts Siobhan has given us in many many other ways! One of those is meeting young bereaved parents through my voluntary work with Sands, as a befriender at Support Meetings and as the Chair of Essex Sands. This ride is in memory of all those babies too and I will be thinking of all the special parents I have met.

When a baby dies, and in the years afterwards, many do not know what to say to family and friends. So if by doing this Just Giving page you remember a baby and reach out to their parents that is all I ask. As parents we never forget and friends and family remembering our babies means so much to us - you won't make us sad as the thoughts are there all the time anyway. Separately if you wish to donate also - thank you very much - you are remembering Siobhan and other babies gone too soon, and reducing the stigma.

Please Note: I will also be doing a cycle ride from London to Bruges in September for Cancer Research UK with some close friends in memory of one of our close mates who died from cancer in 2023 - you may rather choose to donate to this important cause when I share that fundraiser.