Joe and I, along with 7 close friends and family, are participating in the Great South Run this year. The charity we have chosen to raise money and awareness for is SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity). SANDS works to reduce the number of babies dying, and to better understand the cause of baby deaths. It also provides bereavement support for not only Parents, but for friends and family (recognising how much of a ripple effect something like this can have).

On the 27th September 2019 we welcomed our little man of peace into the world named Solomon. He was born at just 24 weeks due to an unknown incompetent cervix which caused a full placental abruption, leading to the waters breaking. Devastatingly, this was fatal for Solomon. This isn’t something we would normally openly share, but we believe the importance of changing the stigma around Miscarriage, Still-Birth and any other things related to Child-loss.

I’m sure you are reading this thinking “It’s heart-breaking” “How will they ever move on from this” “I don’t know what I would do if I were them”. The truth is, you don’t move on, you learn to help each other and turn your life into hourly/daily targets – we’ve learnt to really live for the moment (hence why we are crazy cats and running the Great South Run).

We wouldn’t want to move on from Solomon as we are very proud parents, but with SANDS’ help, we see life more positively than ever before. We both became followers of SANDS Portsmouth and Chichester – This is local support with monthly meetings enabling parents/families to go and share their babies with each other. This group has made such an impact on our family and friends. It was also through this group that I found SANDS United FC Solent and told Joe about it. They’re a football team for all those affected by child-loss. Joe joined, and has done well not only in the team, but personally too, with SANDS united being a massive contributing factor. They have charity awareness matches, normal league matches and, personally my favourite match, family invitationals when they welcomed other family members to play with them.

None of this would have been possible if it weren’t for SANDS.

Even if all you can afford is £1 Myself, Joe and the rest of Team Solomon will be truly thankful for your donation and hope to raise more awareness around child-loss.

If you are affected by anything you have read, please see the following link

www.sands.org.uk

Team Solomon Members taking part:

Joe Maharg

Blee Maharg

James Morgan

Sam Morgan

Claire Alexander

Alice Dee

Charlotte Moody

Sam Moody

Graham Fraser

We also have some little legs running the mini run Jacob Newman, Ralphy Moody and Joey Moody!