A special walk in support of families who have experienced infant loss will be held on the Central Coast on Sunday, October 15.
Choosing Hope is a walk of honour and remembrance, created as a space where bereaved families and their community can come together in support with others who understand, recognise their experience, support them and honour the lives of the children they never got to know.
The event also raises money for the valuable work of national non-profit organisation Bears Of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support.
Choosing Hope was created by Trish Thomas eight years ago after the loss of her infant son at John Hunter Hospital when he died from injuries sustained in a car accident.
“I was heartbroken and sad, but also deeply moved to know statistically I was by no means a minority, even though I felt alone and unable to relate to others,” Thomas said.
“One of four pregnant women will have a miscarriage and eight babies are stillborn each day in Australia.
“These statistics show that infant loss is a very widely felt and known experience, but continues to remain not so talked about.
“I wanted to create a space where we could come together with other bereaved families and feel seen, our experience acknowledged and the loss of our babies honoured.
“Taking the steps they never got to take may also in turn be a step forward in the healing journey too.”
Timed to coincide with the international day of pregnancy and infant loss remembrance, the event was first held on the Central Coast in 2016.
“The event I dreamt of in that hospital room not only became reality but has become so successful and well loved by many in the bereaved community that my Central Coast walk has continued to flourish and is replicated nationwide,” Thomas said.
“This year Bears of Hope will have eight locations where Choosing Hope will happen, with other walks taking place in Sydney, Tamworth, Canberra, Melbourne, Launceston, Brisbane and Perth.”
Fundraising through Choosing Hope has raised more than $700,000 for the work of Bears of Hope in the past eight years.
Money raised will go towards providing much needed resources, teddy bears, care packages in bags, counselling and support services across the country.
“I am expecting at least 500 at our Central Coast event this year, with many, many more to attend nationwide,” Thomas said.
The Choosing Hope walk will begin at 10.30pm on October 15 at the Long Reserve and proceed to Picnic Point at The Entrance.
For more information go to Choosinghope@bearsofhope.org.au
For tickets go to Choosinghope.com.au
Source:
Trish Thomas