Leanne and Mark are running in memory of their baby girl with a team of 14Mark and Leanne Roberts are running the Bristol 10k in memory of their daughter Marcie

Bereaved parents are preparing to run the Bristol 10K with a group of friends in memory of their baby daughter.

Leanne and Mark Roberts, supported by friends including Mark’s running partner Edd, are using the challenge to raise awareness and funds for baby loss charity Luna’s Fund. The couple’s baby daughter, Marcie, was born sleeping in August.

They will be among a group of 14 runners, all wearing purple Luna’s Fund T-shirts emblazoned with ‘In Memory of Marcie’, taking to the streets this Sunday in tribute. They say they hope Marcie’s legacy will be one of hope and love.

Leanne said: “We are so proud to be Marcie’s parents, and the strength she has given us has helped us navigate the last months with a sense of purpose and pride. Exercise has been a huge part of our healing journey, so it made sense for us to set some running challenges to achieve this year.”

The couple from Cornwall hope to raise money for Luna’s Fund, a charity that supports bereaved families across Devon and Cornwall. The organisation played a vital role in helping the couple during their most difficult months, including arranging a weekend retreat that Leanne described as a “major turning point” in their grieving process.

Mark and Edd had already taken part in the Bath Half Marathon earlier this year. Mark said: “We originally signed up for the Bristol 10K for something to do together but then decided to open it up if any friends wanted to join us. We’ve now ended up as a team of 14 running, with more coming to support. Our support network through our loss has been amazing and this is evident by all these people showing up for us.

“I have never been a runner and wanted a challenge, and to push myself to do something positive. The day in Bath was incredible. It was tough but hearing so many people shouting ‘Marcie’s Daddy’ from my Luna’s Fund T-shirt helped me get around. It was amazing hearing her name from so many people.”

The couple’s decision to run in support of Luna’s Fund is rooted in gratitude. Leanne explained: “Thanks to this charity we have access to an online closed community of people who have shared similar experiences to our own.

“They organised a weekend getaway for us in the first few months after losing Marcie, which was a major turning point in helping us try to move through our grief. It was a big step for us to be away from home for a whole weekend, but the way it was organised and set up made us feel really comfortable and allowed us small moments of peace, giving us hope for our future.

“We are so grateful for their help and ongoing support. We would like to raise money for them to show our appreciation and allow them to continue with their amazing work supporting families in the future.”

Donations in support of the team can be made via the Luna’s Fund fundraising page. Luna’s Fund was founded in memory of Luna Valentina Conroy, who was born sleeping in November 2017 and provides a range of practical and emotional support to bereaved and expectant parents.