A mum and dad from Wigan will be running 27 miles in memory of their son, who died when he was just a few hours old.
Lindsay Stanton, 37, gave birth to Zak, 20 weeks and five days into her pregnancy.
Zak only lived for a few hours before dying in the arms of his father, Paul Stanton, 43, in the Pearl Suite at Royal Albert Edward Infirmary on October 27, 2015.
Five years after their devastating loss, Lindsay and Paul, of Poolstock, are running 27 miles to raise money for Aching Arms charity's ‘Miles in Memory’ campaign.
This week is Baby Loss Awareness Week and Lindsay and Paul thanked the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary for the care they received before, during, and following Zak's birth.
Lindsay said: "We had the honour and privilege of being cared for by fantastic midwives who helped us weigh him, dress him, take prints of his hands and feet and also the services of the hospital chaplain who came to bless him.
"As the suite is set up like a bedroom with a double bed, it meant that we could stay together overnight, especially since I’d also had some complications.
"Zak was born at 6.56pm and we said goodbye to him at 2am. The photos we took and the memory box that the hospital provided to us are all we have of him now and are one of our most prized possessions."
Lindsay and Paul now have a two-year-old daughter named Olivia and they returned to the hospital for her birth.
Paul said: "It was also important to us for both children to be born in the same location. Our midwife, Gail, was aware of our previous history and was absolutely fantastic from start to finish, managing Olivia’s birth and our anxieties that came with that."
For Baby Loss Awareness Week, the hospital's 'Tree of Hope' has been lit up pink and blue.
It was arranged by Lindsay's best friend, Tracy Ward, who is a clinical nurse educator at the Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust requested the lights be lit blue and pink.
Paul added: "We are made up that the tree is being lit up pink and blue, it means a lot to us especially as it is at the RAEI. I lost my dad a couple of weeks ago and the bereavement team were amazing with me and my family; we’ve always been looked after at Wigan."
Tomorrow (Thursday October 15) Lindsay has also arranged for the 'Face of Wigan' statue in the town centre to be lit up on Thursday. It will coincide with the 'Wave of Light' that takes place at the end of every Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Sarah Howard, Bereavement Midwife at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity for parents, families and professionals to remember babies who died around the time or soon after birth.
"Supporting families across the borough at this difficult time, and in an exceptionally difficult year, in any way we can is a privilege.
"We hope the individuals and organisations across Wigan will join with us both in lighting up in blue and pink for Baby Loss Awareness Week and in the Wave of Light on Thursday.”
To join the global 'Wave of Light', simply light a candle at 7pm tomorrow and leave it burning for at least one hour.
To support Lindsay and Paul, here is their fundraising page
