Events planned to mark baby loss awareness week

A SERIES of events are planned in Shetland over the coming days to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.

A 5km ‘ribbon run’ will be held in conjunction with the Bressay parkrun on Saturday morning (10 October).

Lerwick Town Hall will be lit up blue and pink on Thursday 15 October.

People will also be invited to light a candle for an hour in their own home on the same day at 7pm in an act of remembrance.

It is part of the Wave of Light event, which sees people across the world light candles in remembrance.

Candles are available locally from the Envi hairdressers on Commercial Street in Lerwick.

Baby Loss Awareness week runs from 9 to 15 October, and locally it is being organised by the charity Shetland Sands.

Sands exists to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, before, during or shortly after birth.

Marie Pottinger, who runs the local branch, said it was important to keep raising awareness of baby loss.

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“There’s no a month we dunna have folk coming forward needing support,” she said.

Pottinger said in addition to providing one-to-one support to grieving parents, the charity also provides items to the hospital’s maternity department like baby gowns and care packages.

She said Sands also provides training for the local bereavement support service.

Earlier this year a new football team was also created under the Shetland Sands banner for men who have been affected by baby loss.

Shetland Sands can be contacted via support@shetlandsands.co.uk.