91 families recently came together in a powerful display of unity to honour special babies and support grieving families. Organised by Sands United Brighton & Hove, a football team consisting of bereaved dads, the event aimed to offer comfort, understanding, and compassion to those dealing with the loss of a baby. This initiative, known as 91 Letters, was established to pay tribute to the 91 babies who are stillborn or pass away shortly after birth each week in the UK.
Parents, friends, and families who have been affected by baby loss took the time to write letters of hope and reassurance. These heartfelt letters are intended to be a source of solace for those who are navigating the early stages of grief. The letters will be distributed to grieving families through hospitals and the Sands charity network as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week.
It is a sad reality that 91 families in the UK experience the heartbreaking loss of a baby every week. The 91 Letters Initiative was created to acknowledge this tragic statistic and provide support for individuals going through the pain of losing a child. The event aimed to remind everyone that they are not alone and that there is a community ready to offer guidance, share experiences, and provide comfort to those in need.
Will Bower, one of the organisers, shared his personal experience, stating, “Losing a baby is the hardest thing that can happen to parents. We hope these letters will support them soon after finding out about their loss to make them feel less alone.” The event not only served as a way to remember lost babies but also to show others that they do not have to face this sorrow alone.
Jen Coates, Director of Bereavement Support and Volunteering at Sands, emphasised the importance of offering understanding and connection to grieving parents and families. She mentioned that pregnancy and baby loss can be isolating, but reaching out with simple gestures like writing a letter can make a significant difference in letting those affected know they are not alone in their grief.
The culminating event for Baby Loss Awareness Week involved lighting candles for the babies who were taken too soon, creating a global Wave of Light to honour their memory and provide a moment of collective remembrance. This touching gesture underscores the strength found in coming together during times of loss and grief.
As the week came to a close, the participants, including over 30 bereaved dads, found solace in each other’s company, offering support, playing with their angels’ names on their chests, and creating a space where they could momentarily clear their minds. The event not only recognised the pain of losing a child but also highlighted the power of unity and shared experiences in coping with such profound loss.
In these challenging times, events like the 91 Letters Initiative and the Wave of Light serve as poignant reminders of the importance of compassion, community, and coming together to support those who are grieving the loss of a child.