The Sunbeam Support Group, a bereavement group run by midwives at Airedale Hospital, held their Wave of Light event this Sunday, 15 October as part of the global culmination of Baby Loss Awareness Week. This poignant candle lighting ceremony marks an hour of reflection and remembrance for families who have suffered miscarriage, stillbirth and child loss.
The event, held in the Sunbeam Garden at Airedale Hospital, was organised by members of the Sunbeam Group and was attended by Airedale Chaplain, Liz Maitland and the Yorkshire Voices Choir. Parents were offered lovelock hearts with padlocks for families to write on and candles were lit and placed around the Tree of Tranquillity in the garden.
Bev Beaumont, Bereavement Lead Midwife and Co-Founder of the Sunbeam Support Group says:
“It is very humbling to bring parents and families together in recognition of their baby losses. This is especially so at this year’s Wave of Light where over 60 people attended this event. Our Sunbeam Team and I feel very honoured and privileged to facilitate this gathering.”
The Sunbeam Support Group is run by midwives Bev Beaumont, Gemma Sayer and Dawn Wright alongside parent helper Grace Detoeuf. The group provides a welcoming space for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby or young child. Parents can meet other families who are grieving for their children, talk openly about their loss, discuss coping mechanisms, and learn to live again. Run by Airedale Midwives, the group offers advice for bereaved parents, and grief-related resources, including a lending library which allows parents to borrow books related to the topic of baby loss.
