Daughter's Death Inspires Local Woman's Fundraising Effort
Leanne Watts taking part in this year's London Marathon
SANDS supports parents of babies like Ava
A woman is taking part in this year’s London marathon to raised funds for a charity that provides support for bereaved parents.
Leanne Watts, who lived in Chiswick for over a decade before moving to Isleworth, lost her own daughter Ava last October.
Ava, was poorly from the moment she was born and immediately transferred to a Neonatal unit after Leanne gave birth. It was only when she was four days old that she was able to hold her daughter for the first time but, at that stage, the terminal diagnosis had already been given. Along with her husband Mike, she was able to spend a day with Ava, reading her stories and introducing her to her big sister before she passed away in her mother’s arms.
Leanne said, “Mike & I took great comfort in our friends & family lighting candles for Ava at this time, alongside the rest of the baby loss community and essentially being her guiding lights to a better place.”
She added, “As parents, Mike & I have had to have the most horrific conversations and had to make unimaginable decisions that I really wish no other parent had to do but unfortunately the statistics speak for themselves - 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. You think it will never happen to you or anyone you know, unfortunately I'm living proof it does & it's excruciatingly painful on a daily basis.”
Although she isn’t a runner, Leanne is taking part in this year’s London Marathon on Sunday 23 April for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (SANDS). She was informed of her marathon place on what would have been Ava’s due date.
The charity’s local support group, which Leanne attends, meets in the Chiswick area.
At the time of writing, Leanne is 95% of the way to raising her target of £13,000 with over 200 people already donating.
You can find out more about Ava’s story and support Leanne’s fundraising efforts here.
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February 22, 2023