A Lancashire runner is preparing for his most gruelling challenge to date, aiming to cover the entire length of Hadrian's Wall in a single run to raise vital funds for a charity supporting grieving parents.
A Coast-to-Coast Tribute for Baby Leo
Steven Willetts, from Bamber Bridge, will tackle the 84-mile Hadrian's Wall Path from coast to coast on May 30. His monumental effort is in memory of baby Leo Haffner and aims to generate funds and awareness for ARC (Antenatal Results and Choices). This national charity provides essential, specialised support to parents navigating the devastating journey of pregnancy loss and termination for medical reasons (TFMR).
Steven is undertaking this challenge with the support of Leo's mother, Jen Haffner. Jen's own harrowing experience with ARC following the loss of her son at 21 weeks and 3 days of pregnancy has been the central motivation for the run. She described the profound impact the charity had during her darkest hours, particularly as her loss occurred over the Christmas period when many support services were closed.
"ARC Saved Me": A Mother's Testimony of Support
"It's hard to put into words how much ARC saved me," Jen said, reflecting on the immediate and ongoing care she received. After reaching out in desperation, she was contacted directly by the charity's director, Jane, who offered empathetic help and booked a call.
Jen was guided to multiple sources of support, including ARC's online forum, and later received therapy arranged by their support coordinator, Sally. Jane provided consistent, compassionate support through panic attacks, often late into the evening via calls, emails, and texts. "I don't know what I would have done without ARC in those early days," Jen admitted, noting that two years on, she still turns to them for grief support.
Running to Ensure No Parent is Left Alone
For Steven, this run transcends physical endurance. It is a mission to ensure other parents facing unimaginable loss are not left without crucial support. "No parent should ever have to lose a child," Steven stated. He emphasised the often unseen but compassionate work of ARC, saying, "ARC provides compassionate, often unseen support at the darkest moments, and I'm honoured to run in Leo's memory to help ensure they can continue this vital work now and in the future."
The fundraiser highlights the heartbreaking and frequently overlooked issue of baby loss in the UK. Recent statistics underscore the scale of the need:
- In 2023, the UK recorded 2,612 stillbirths (a rate of 4.0 per 1,000 births).
- Miscarriage is estimated to affect over 110,000 pregnancies each year.
Steven, who is also known as a co-host of the popular Lancashire podcast The Brig Boys, is channelling the community spirit of the show into this profound cause. Supporters can contribute to his effort by visiting his JustGiving page dedicated to the challenge.
