In a powerful and emotional show of solidarity, 91 families affected by baby loss came together on a football pitch to hold letters of support for newly bereaved families. Organised by Sands United Brighton & Hove—a football team made up of bereaved dads—the event aimed to provide comfort, understanding and compassion to those grieving the loss of a baby. The initiative, known as 91 Letters, was created to honour the 91 babies who are stillborn or die shortly after birth each week in the UK.
Parents, friends, and families who have been touched by baby loss wrote letters to offer hope and reassurance to those navigating the early days of grief. These letters will be distributed to grieving families through hospitals and the Sands charity network for Baby Loss Awareness Week. Half of UK adults have said that they, or someone they know, had experienced at least one form of pregnancy or baby loss.
So it’s vital that everyone knows that they are not alone and that there is a community that understands and is here for them, whatever they need – be it guidance, shared stories or simply a listening ear to help and offer comfort. Organiser, Will Bower, said: “We lost our son, Billy, 38 weeks into our pregnancy last April. I remember feeling very alone in that moment before finding Sands and other bereaved parents in the area.
So we wanted to write some simple letters of support for families who are experiencing the most awful days of their lives. Losing a baby is the hardest.