I am running 10k to raise money for The Worst Girl Gang Ever, a charity that has helped me enormously.

This story has been 2 years in the making. Miscarriage and baby loss has long been shrouded in shame and secrecy, which is just another stumbling block for people already struggling to navigate one of the most difficult things they can go through.

Two years ago we found out at a routine scan that our much-wanted pregnancy was not viable. The next steps passed by in a blur of trying to understand the physical process while also working out what info to share, when, with who. Alongside the physical pain, was the heavy burden of having no frame of reference for how to navigate the emotional pain, and trying as best we could to keep on living our life.

A few months later we were back at A&E, this time with an ectopic pregnancy. Again, I had to learn about the physical processes of this pregnancy ending - a potentially life-threatening situation for me, while also grieving what we had lost. At the same time I was preparing for a job interview and battled with whether or not I should tell my employer what was happening, with the fear that this could jeopardise my chances of getting hired.

Too often, stories of pregnancy loss are swept under the rug, or details minimised to soften the pain for others who do not want to hear the sadness. When we do hear of brave people sharing their stories, it is often after the fact, once they have brought home their miracle baby and can 'soften the blow' with the happy ending.

Now is my moment to open up. I hope that by sharing my experience, I will help other people going through something similar to know they are not alone. Experiencing baby loss is a deeply personal and painful thing and our society has made it lonelier by calling it a taboo. No one has the answers and no one can guarantee me a happy ending.

Through these last 2 years I have learned to reach out for help when I need it, and have found the support of The Worst Girl Gang Ever foundation absolutely invaluable. Not only do they have practical advice about how to cope each day, they have also created an awesome community of brave and amazing women who hold each other up when it feels like everything else around us is falling down.

I want to show my appreciation for their support by participating in this Run 10k to raise 10k challenge, and help them to continue provide a lifeline to women at the worst points of their lives. If you can donate to join this cause, it would really mean a lot.

Thanks for reading.

Caroline