Bereaved Horsham parents shine a light on Baby Loss Awareness Week with help from estate agents

An estate agents in Horsham has lit up in pink and blue to support a bereaved Horsham couple during Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW).
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For a second year, parents Helen and Chris Kowalkowski have asked Brock Taylor to be among many buildings across the country hoping to shine a light on baby loss between October 9-15.

The couple will also be taking part in a steps challenge this month in memory of daughter Ruby who passed away last June when she was just two-and-a-half days old.

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Peter Maskell , managing director at Brock Taylor, said: “We are delighted to be able to support and promote BLAW 2020, by once more lighting up our building in pink and blue.

Horsham estate agents Brock Taylor has changed its lights to blue and pink to support Horsham parents Helen and Chris Kowalkowski during Baby Loss Awareness Week 2020 SUS-201210-112602001Horsham estate agents Brock Taylor has changed its lights to blue and pink to support Horsham parents Helen and Chris Kowalkowski during Baby Loss Awareness Week 2020 SUS-201210-112602001
Horsham estate agents Brock Taylor has changed its lights to blue and pink to support Horsham parents Helen and Chris Kowalkowski during Baby Loss Awareness Week 2020 SUS-201210-112602001

“It’s such a worthy cause and having had staff members directly affected by this, it is my pleasure to do our small part.

“As we occupy such a visual position in the town, we have installed lights that we can when change to any colour combination. When Helen and Chris first approached us to help to raise awareness for the cause, in memory of their daughter Ruby, I obviously wanted to help.

“As a father myself and a company with strong local connections, I am delighted to do anything possible to help this or any other local cause in any way that I can.”

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As part of the awareness week, a wave of light will also take place on Thursday, October 15, which sees parents light candles for their babies, with friends and family doing the same to show support.

Chris and Helen Kowalkowski with daughter Ruby. Picture by nationwide charity Remember My Baby SUS-200127-114504001Chris and Helen Kowalkowski with daughter Ruby. Picture by nationwide charity Remember My Baby SUS-200127-114504001
Chris and Helen Kowalkowski with daughter Ruby. Picture by nationwide charity Remember My Baby SUS-200127-114504001

Helen and Chris will be taking part, as well as wearing blue and pink ribbon badges, for Ruby who was left with a brain injury called HIE (Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) after she didn’t receive oxygen during the final stages of labour, despite Helen having a textbook pregnancy and labour.

Ruby was later transferred to Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey where she was very closely monitored in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) but after there was no improvement on her brain activity, the couple had to make the tough decision to remove her life support.

Helen said: “This is our second year of knowing about BLAW and although it is incredibly sad we are taking part in events this week, I also feel it is so important to break the silence about baby loss.

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“Brock Taylor were such an amazing support last year, lighting up their building and we are so pleased they are able to do this again for BLAW 2020.

Chris Kowalkowski (right) from Horsham with pal Jason Hamilton who both play for Sands United following the loss of Chris' daughter, Ruby, last year SUS-200710-154232001Chris Kowalkowski (right) from Horsham with pal Jason Hamilton who both play for Sands United following the loss of Chris' daughter, Ruby, last year SUS-200710-154232001
Chris Kowalkowski (right) from Horsham with pal Jason Hamilton who both play for Sands United following the loss of Chris' daughter, Ruby, last year SUS-200710-154232001

“There are lots of things that have happened in our lives since Ruby was born last June, and we have started to call it The Ruby Effect.

“The pink and blue lights on the beautiful Brock Taylor building in town make us feel that Ruby has had some part in breaking the silence against baby loss in Horsham.”

Twenty weeks after Ruby was born, Chris joined SANDS United along with friend Jason Hamilton who has been a huge support to both Chris and Helen.

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The football team is a unique way for dads and other bereaved family members to come together through a shared love of sport and find a support network where they can feel at ease talking about their grief when they’re ready.

The teams also commemorate their baby’s all too brief life by proudly displaying their names on the kit worn at every match.

It is run by Sands (the stillborn and neonatal death society) which is holding its #stepsforsands challenge this month.

It will see Helen, Chris, Jason, his wife Meg and Helen’s sister Kate Turner walking 310,000 steps each throughout October to raise money for SANDS United Brighton and Hove.

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Chris said: “Sands United has been a huge support for me since we lost our daughter Ruby last June.

“It’s a safe place. A place where I can play a sport I have a great passion for whilst being surrounded by people who understand the journey you are on, because sadly, they’re on a similar path.”

The couple will be getting their steps in by taking part in a 5k memory walk on Friday, October 9, which will visit 14 of Brighton and Hove’s iconic seafront landmarks.

They are hoping to raise £250 for the football team.

“So far, our Steps For Sands challenge is going really well and we are smashing the target of 10k steps per day to reach the 310,000 each at the end of each month,” said Helen.

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“We’ve had quite a few rainy walks already, but nothing that has stopped us from getting out and about.”

To donate to Helen and Chris’ walking fundraiser, visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stepsforruby

For more about BLAW, visit https://babyloss-awareness.org/ and information about the steps challenge, visit https://www.sands.org.uk/get-involved/stepschallenge

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