Choosing Hope is a walk of honour and remembrance along the lake foreshore at Long Jetty in support of families who have experienced the loss of their baby.
It has been organised by Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support to also help raise funds for the non-profit organisation to continue its work.
Volunteer Event Co-ordinator, Trish Thomas, said the purpose was to create a space where bereaved families and their community could come together with others who understood and recognised their experience, support them and honour the lives of the children they never got to know, in addition to raising money for the valuable work of Bears of Hope.
“Every day in Australia, six babies are stillborn, three babies die after birth and before their first birthday and a miscarriage will occur every 3.5 minutes,” she said.
“These statistics show that this experience is widely known and deeply felt, thus the necessity for support is critical to caring for these individuals and their families.”
Thomas said that funds raised from the Choosing Hope walk would help put their care packages in doctors surgeries and hospitals across the nation.
“It will also help make support services accessible, available and free for the individuals that so dearly need it, just like my family did,” she said.
Choosing Hope Central Coast will be on Saturday, October 15 from 1.30pm.
Participants will take a leisurely 3.7km walk from Saltwater Reserve at Long Jetty along the Tuggerah Lake foreshore to Picnic Point at The Entrance where a special remembrance service will be held.
A free shuttle bus is available for return to the starting point.
The event is part of support activities aligned with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
More information and registration is available online at centralcoast.choosinghope.com.au
Sue Murray