Vanessa Bowers-Wood
My Story
Hello,
Thank you for visiting my page and considering a donation for Sands.
In 2021, my daughter Elowen was stillborn at 32 weeks of pregnancy. Elowen was a much loved daughter, sister and granddaughter and her death was devastating to us all.
What followed was one of the hardest, uphill struggles I've ever faced. A broken heart and spirit that was struggling to find a way to recover. But I did recover and a large part of that recovery was facilitated by Sands who created ways to memorialise our daughter and are always there to offer support. Five years later, I know where to go when the sadness hits and I know many other families who benefit from their help and support.
I have long wanted to do something to say thank you and contribute towards a future where less and less parents experience this heartbreak and so I will supporting Sands by running the TCS London Marathon 2026. The funds I raise will help support anyone who has been affected by pregnancy loss or the death of baby, as well research understanding why a baby might die.
Sands is made up of staff and volunteers who work together to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby has access to compassionate, experienced support. They offer one-to-one and group support through our various bereavement channels, local groups and Sands United football teams, the family and remembrance events and provide virtual and physical bereavement resources such as memory boxes.
They work to save babies' lives by amplifying the voices of bereaved families and healthcare professionals, campaigning for change in policy and practice, and funding research to understand why babies die.
