A Stevenage mum who founded a charity to help other bereaved parents after her unborn daughter tragically died is to take on her first marathon to raise funds for the cause.
In 2014, Kylie Osborn and her partner Sol Jalil went to Lister Hospital for a routine scan, only to be told that their daughter Darcie had Edwards’ Syndrome – a genetic condition causing severe abnormalities that meant she was ‘incompatible with life’.
When they learned they wouldn’t be taking their daughter home from hospital, but burying her instead, the grief-stricken couple decided to be proactive and started up Darcie’s Wish.
Kylie, of Haycock Round, said: “Darcie’s Wish came about to help raise as much awareness as possible because baby loss is such a taboo subject.
“Before it happened to us, I didn’t know anyone else who had suffered losing a baby. But now I’ve heard so many people’s experiences.”
She added: “When Darcie first died people wanted to give us flowers, but I thought it was a waste.
“Then they wanted to donate money, and quite quickly we raised more than £5,000.
“We spoke to staff at Lister and they said we could use the funds to help other heartbroken parents.”
Now Darcie’s Wish is in the process of becoming a registered charity and as well as raising more than £15,000 so far to help revamp a bereavement suite at the hospital, Kylie is also accepting pre-loved wedding dressed which will be turned into outfits for angel babies.
Kylie said Sol – her partner of more than five years – has been very supportive of her, and is extremely proud. They now have a son called Roman, who, would have been about 15 months younger than his big sister.
Slimming World consultant Kylie has never run a marathon before. She used to run before she became pregnant but hasn’t ever taken on anything like 26.2 miles. She applied for London and didn’t get in, but was pleased to get into Sunday’s Brighton race.
“I’m feeling really nervous about the marathon, I want to do it for Darcie.”
“Every mile I run will be for a different angel baby, and Darcie is mile 26 so I have to get there.”
A lot of people say I am brave for what I am doing and what I have done, I just want to keep Darcie’s memory alive.
“I want her cause to continue raising money to help those who are going through the worst thing a parent could ever have to go through.”
Kylie’s marathon mission has so far raised more than £3,000. To add to her total go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kylie-osbornDW or for more information see the Darcie’s Wish Facebook page.
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