A woman whose daughter was stillborn five years ago and has since suffered three miscarriages and a twin ectopic pregnancy is hoping to raise £10,000 for charity to mark the start of Baby Loss Awareness Week (October 9-15).

The Comet: Carla Pilsworth is raising money for Tommy's - a charity which supported her after her daughter Daisy was stillborn in 2011, and which has continued to support her after multiple miscarriages since.Carla Pilsworth is raising money for Tommy's - a charity which supported her after her daughter Daisy was stillborn in 2011, and which has continued to support her after multiple miscarriages since. (Image: Archant)

Carla Pilsworth, of Moss Way in Hitchin, was 37 weeks pregnant when her daughter Daisy was stillborn after an acute placental abruption had starved the baby of oxygen.

It was after this devastation that she discovered Tommy’s – a charity which supports families and funds research into the causes of miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.

One in six pregnancies ends in miscarriage, while one in 200 births ends in a stillbirth. A stillbirth is when a baby dies after 24 weeks of pregnancy.

Carla said: “Tommy’s offered me great support over the weeks that followed. I never knew before there was a need for such a charity. I never dreamed I would need to use it.”

Carla has been diagnosed with polycystic ovaries, endometriosis and sub-fertility and has tried IVF a number of times.

She has turned to Tommy’s many times, as her desire for a family has so far been denied and she has dealt with the heartbreak of multiple miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy.

Carla said: “Some of you might be thinking how much more can she take? Giving up is not in my makeup, and if I want something I will do all I can to get it.

“I don’t intend on giving up on our dream of having a family, but I do want to do something positive following the heartbreak we have endured.”

She, along with more than 25 members of family and friends from Hitchin, Letchworth and Stevenage, make up Team Daisy, and together they hope to raise £10,000 for Tommy’s by taking part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon today. They have so far raised £6,000.

Carla said: “I need something new to focus on for a while. Daisy would have celebrated her 5th birthday this year. I honestly cannot think of a better way to celebrate her anniversary than to do something with people I love in her memory.”

To sponsor the team, visit www.justgiving.com/doingitfordaisy