Dear Friends

I wanted to reach out at this time with some potentially good news and hope for our fight against group B Strep and to send out thoughts, good wishes and remembrances during this Baby Loss Awareness week. 

Last week newly appointed Health Minister Nadine Dorries announced group B Strep as the top of her five key priorities on taking office (see link below). 

Nadine has been a long-time supporter of the charity Group B Strep Support while on the backbenches, so we can hopefully look forward to seeing her act on her words and make real progress whilst in Government to protect more families from devastating group B Strep infections.   

The need for testing and raising awareness levels is still so desperately important to save precious little lives, like our Edward.

You may know that 9–15 October every year is Baby Loss Awareness Week across the globe, culminating in the global Wave of Light at 7 pm on 15 October.  The week offers a time for bereaved parents, our family and friends the opportunity to unite with others to commemorate our baby's lives and for us and our supporters to raise awareness about pregnancy and baby loss. 

This is so important in relation to a subject that is so difficult to talk about, sometimes swept to the side and just not on a lot of people’s radar.  And yet speaking about the baby you lost is one of the best ways to share the love you will always have for them and keep their memory alive.

So let’s try and make time, space and support for everyone who wants to do that this week especially, but whenever you can.

And join the global Wave of Light at 7 pm on 15 October. Simply light a candle and leave it burning for at least an hour to remember all the beautiful and precious babies who left us far too soon but will always be remembered. You can share a picture of your candle on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using #WaveOfLight

Thank you as always for your support.

Fiona