Crawley mum 'blown away' as dozens attend baby loss remembrance service
A bereaved Crawley mum has spoken of her overwhelming gratitude after dozens of people attended the town's first Wave of Light remembrance service to honour babies who have died during pregnancy, at birth or shortly afterwards.
Shelby Beeden organised the emotional event at St Barnabas Church in Pound Hill on Thursday, October 15, as part of Baby Loss Awareness Week and in support of Sussex-based charity Oscar’s Wish Foundation.
The evening brought together bereaved families, friends and supporters for a moving service of remembrance, reflection and community support.
Led by Reverend Sarah Upchurch, the service featured poetry, music, a dance performance and a personal moment of remembrance in which the names of babies and children were read aloud.
At 7pm, those attending joined thousands of people around the world in lighting candles as part of the global Wave of Light, remembering babies whose lives were lost and showing solidarity with families affected by pregnancy and baby loss.
For Shelby, who has experienced multiple pregnancy losses herself, organising the event was particularly personal.
She said: “I am honestly blown away by the response to our Wave of Light service. Seeing 97 people come together to remember our beautiful babies is something I will never forget.
“When you experience baby loss, it can be an incredibly lonely journey. Sometimes it feels as though the world carries on while yours has completely stopped. I know how difficult it can be to navigate grief, and how important it is to feel understood and supported.
“I wanted to create an evening where our babies could be remembered in the way they deserve, where families could come together, and where nobody had to feel alone in their grief. To see our community come together with so much love, kindness and generosity has meant more to me than I can put into words.
“My hope is that everyone who came along went home with their hearts a little fuller, knowing that their babies matter, their grief matters, and they are not alone. Every candle represented a precious life, a family and a love that will never end.”
The service was supported by members of the local community, with businesses donating raffle prizes, residents providing homemade cakes and volunteers giving their time to help organise the evening.
Money raised through the raffle went towards Oscar’s Wish Foundation, a Sussex-based registered charity which supports parents, families and siblings following miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal loss.
The charity provides bereavement support, resources and support networks, as well as helping families navigating pregnancy after loss.
Shelby had previously explained that her own experiences of baby loss had left her struggling to find somewhere locally where she felt comfortable grieving and remembering her babies.
She wanted to establish an accessible and compassionate space in Crawley where families could come together rather than having to mark the occasion alone.
Following the success of the service, she hopes the conversations it encouraged will continue throughout the year.
Shelby added: “Baby Loss Awareness Week is so important because it reminds us that these babies existed, that they are loved and that their families deserve to be supported. But for those of us who have experienced loss, grief doesn't end when the week does. We need to keep talking, keep listening and keep making space for these conversations all year round.
“I am incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this evening possible, from St Barnabas Church and Oscar’s Wish Foundation to the volunteers, local businesses, cake donors and every single person who attended. You helped give our angel babies the Wave of Light they deserve.”
Baby Loss Awareness Week takes place annually from October 9 to 15, raising awareness of pregnancy and baby loss, encouraging conversations about bereavement and highlighting the importance of support for affected families.
It concludes with the global Wave of Light, when people are invited to light a candle at 7pm local time in memory of babies who have died.
Across the UK, 13 babies die shortly before, during or soon after birth each day, while evidence suggests at least one in six pregnancies ends in miscarriage.
The Crawley gathering offered an opportunity for families to remember their loved ones together, while highlighting the importance of providing compassionate support long after Baby Loss Awareness Week has ended.
More information about Oscar’s Wish Foundation and its support services can be found at www.oscarswishfoundation.co.uk.