St Germans couple continue to raise awareness of miscarriages with new challenge

Ever since losing a baby in 2018, a West Norfolk woman has been raising awareness of miscarriages and support for the bereaved.

Jo Patrick, of St Germans, is an ambassador for Coping and Living with Miscarriage (CALM), and has launched a new fundraising campaign.

Alongside her partner Steve, Miss Patrick is encouraging people to take part in the ‘AKA Stepping Up For The MA’ challenge.

This challenges participants to complete 250,000 steps throughout January – the same as the number of pregnancies that are estimated to end in miscarriage in the UK each year.

Funds raised will go towards the Miscarriage Association, and Miss Patrick is encouraging members of her kickboxing business, the Adapt Kickboxing Association (AKA), to get involved.

Adapt Kickboxing Association, runs in Long Sutton and West Lynn for all ages and abilities starting from the age of seven.

Miss Patrick said: "We are currently closed due to Covid restrictions but we wanted to keep the students motivated for their health and well-being so we figured why not raise money and awareness for the MA at the same time by doing their 250k steps challenge.

"With fundraising being hindered due to Covid, this seemed the perfect way to help out.

The fundraising page for the challenge can be found at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/AKASteppingUpForTheMA

Miss Patrick and her partner have been active fundraisers ever since their personal tragedy. They were expecting a sibling for their IVF miracle in 2018 and began planning for a family of four.

Sadly, the couple found out they’d had a silent miscarriage prior to the dating scan as they lost their baby girl. Their son is now four-years-old.

During the pandemic, Miss Patrick has been fundraising for a new memorial garden at Nordelph Village Hall for bereaved parents. A skydive for this cause has been postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19.

The CALM ambassador has raised funds for the Maternity Bereavement Suite appeal at Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital as well.

This was the Lynn News Charity of the Year for 2020 but we will continue to write about the appeal in 2021.

The cause still requires funds towards furnishings for the facility, which is expected to be completed by April.

Miss Patrick said: “The suite is really needed to allow families to spend time with the baby without the constant cries of mothers in labour.

“I have seen some of the plans and there will be a separate entrance and exit to be discreet and to not go through the family ward. This space for families is a definite benefit for the future.”

CALM have an online support group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/calmnorfolk/

Miss Patrick said: "Usually we hold monthly support meetings. We have a grief library of useful books to help bereaved parents going through loss and one of our founders also offers a bespoke artwork service which gets put into our Book of Remembrance and a copy is given to them free of charge to honour and remember their babies by."