Sands

2023 TCS London Marathon

Karina Bolam

Karina Bolam

My Story

In memory of our beautiful little girl, Ida Rose Bolam 19.09.2014 and all the little ones taken too soon.

I am absolutely thrilled to be taking on the world famous TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23 April 2023 for Sands – a fantastic charity close to my heart that offered me support through some of my darkest hours.

We had been through 4 rounds of IVF and had been so delighted to be pregnant with our first child. Late  into the pregnancy we found out that our baby was very poorly and unlikely to survive. There are no words that can adequately describe that feeling. Hearing those words made time stand still for me. We found out we were having a little girl and the following weeks passed in a blur of fear, scans, specialists and huge decisions. Our priority was making her comfortable and safe until she died. 

I felt her go on the Saturday night. I just knew. This was confirmed at a scan on the Monday morning and, at 32 weeks, our beautiful little girl was born asleep on 19 September 2014.

I don’t remember much in the weeks that followed. Family and friends were absolutely amazing. Sands came into their own - Sands gave me a window into the outside world – it allowed me to speak to people who had been through the same as us, to see people who were further along the rollercoaster and they gave me hope. Their work with bereaved parents is invaluable. Without them we wouldn’t have the box with her photos, her hand and footprints – their guidance gave friends and family the tools to find the right words to say to us to support us while we worked through the grief.

There isn’t a day where we don’t think about Ida. She would be 8 now. My little girls know about her and talk freely about their sister. For me, I feel she has left me with a strength I didn’t think possible. A special little girl. 

I want to raise as much funds needed to help prevent more babies from dying and meet the growing need for the support services that Sands provide.

I'm am not a runner - yet!! At the start of this journey I could just about run 5k. It's tough! I ache a lot ! But I'm absolutely determined to complete it. Every time it gets tough I think of Ida - and if I can get through the pain of losing her, I can get through my run. 

This is the first marathon I have ever done - and I’m just a little bit terrified. It’s always been something I wanted to do and Sands is the absolute perfect motivation.

Any donation big or small would be greatly appreciated. Every penny counts. 

Thank you

Sands

Raising for:

Sands
224%

Funded

  • Target
    £2,250
  • Raised so far
    £5,047
  • Number of donors
    181

My Story

In memory of our beautiful little girl, Ida Rose Bolam 19.09.2014 and all the little ones taken too soon.

I am absolutely thrilled to be taking on the world famous TCS London Marathon on Sunday 23 April 2023 for Sands – a fantastic charity close to my heart that offered me support through some of my darkest hours.

We had been through 4 rounds of IVF and had been so delighted to be pregnant with our first child. Late  into the pregnancy we found out that our baby was very poorly and unlikely to survive. There are no words that can adequately describe that feeling. Hearing those words made time stand still for me. We found out we were having a little girl and the following weeks passed in a blur of fear, scans, specialists and huge decisions. Our priority was making her comfortable and safe until she died. 

I felt her go on the Saturday night. I just knew. This was confirmed at a scan on the Monday morning and, at 32 weeks, our beautiful little girl was born asleep on 19 September 2014.

I don’t remember much in the weeks that followed. Family and friends were absolutely amazing. Sands came into their own - Sands gave me a window into the outside world – it allowed me to speak to people who had been through the same as us, to see people who were further along the rollercoaster and they gave me hope. Their work with bereaved parents is invaluable. Without them we wouldn’t have the box with her photos, her hand and footprints – their guidance gave friends and family the tools to find the right words to say to us to support us while we worked through the grief.

There isn’t a day where we don’t think about Ida. She would be 8 now. My little girls know about her and talk freely about their sister. For me, I feel she has left me with a strength I didn’t think possible. A special little girl. 

I want to raise as much funds needed to help prevent more babies from dying and meet the growing need for the support services that Sands provide.

I'm am not a runner - yet!! At the start of this journey I could just about run 5k. It's tough! I ache a lot ! But I'm absolutely determined to complete it. Every time it gets tough I think of Ida - and if I can get through the pain of losing her, I can get through my run. 

This is the first marathon I have ever done - and I’m just a little bit terrified. It’s always been something I wanted to do and Sands is the absolute perfect motivation.

Any donation big or small would be greatly appreciated. Every penny counts. 

Thank you

Karina Bolam is fundraising towards