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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Ryan Thom

Baby loss awareness week: Landmarks light up to support bereaved parents in Ayrshire

Ayrshire landmarks have lit up to support bereaved parents who have lost babies.

Baby Loss Awareness Week 2022 was marked across the region with colourful displays of pink and blue.

Some iconic structures and buildings started to light up early last week to solidarity with the awareness week between October 9 and 15.

In Kilmarnock the iconic railway arches lit up in the colours to represent the baby boys and girls who have tragically passed away.

Elsewhere in the town the Halo Project was also illuminated, with the new building seen glowing from across the town.

In North Ayrshire, buildings including The Portal in Irvine, Saltcoats Town Hall and Kilwinning Abbey joined in.

The Halo Project in Kilmarnock lit up to show support to the cause (Submitted /Ayrshire Live)

And Ayr’s Wallace Tower lit up on Saturday night to mark the official ‘wave of light’, where beacons across the globe illuminated at 7pm.

The light-up campaign in the region was pushed by charity Ayrshire Baby Loss Support who hope the public displays will continue to raise awareness of the devastating impact that losing a baby has on families.

The Portal in Irvine glows in pink and blue (Submitted /Ayrshire Live)

The charity based at, Crosshouse Hospital Maternity Unit urged families to light up their homes or light a candle when the clocks struck seven on Saturday, October 15.

Charity Carol Greet, committee member for Ayrshire Baby Loss Support told Ayrshire Live: “It is all about raising awareness and ending the stigma of baby loss.

“We have been well backed across Ayrshire with buildings in East, North and South Ayrshire lighting up for us.

A tower of support shown at the Wallace Tower in Ayr (Submitted /Ayrshire Live)

“We can’t thank them all enough for doing that for us. This week we already had the Halo Project light up thanks to Drew Macklin who has been a terrific support for us.”

The charity launched in April 2021 and since then have supported families by offering counselling, zoom meetings, email support and telephone support.

Carol added: “We provide support for all baby loss no matter, if a family has lost their baby whether neonatal or prenatal we will offer them support.

“Losing a baby is the hardest thing many families will go through.

“You plan for the happiness days of your life and instead you end up planning a funeral.

“Anyone who has lost a baby at any stage, we are there to support them give them and voice and let them know they are not alone.”

North Ayrshire and Arran MP Patricia Gibson has fully backed Baby Loss Awareness Week after she tragically suffered a stillbirth.

The SNP MP said: “Having suffered a stillbirth, I am again this year supporting Baby Loss Awareness Week. I have campaigned for better maternal care and support for families living with stillbirth and baby loss since I was first elected in 2015 and will continue to do so.

“Baby Loss Awareness Week is a perfect opportunity to highlight the devastation of baby loss and help break the taboo around this life-changing experience.”

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