Parents, relatives and friends will gather around a tree in Borehamwood town centre to remember all of the babies who have passed away.
The vigil at the Evergreen tree on the corner of Shenley Road and Furzehill Road at 7pm on Saturday (October 15) will mark the culmination of Baby Loss Awareness Week and see attendees light candles.
The tree has been decorated in pink, blue and white ribbons and people are encouraged to come and leave message cards on the tree.
Organiser Tina Nandha, who lost her baby after a miscarriage in 2016, said: “This is the fourth year that the event will run and for as long as I live in Borehamwood, I shall continue to organise the event.
“I will do it because it breaks the silence around baby loss, it brings a community together and it gets the attention it deserves to help improve after care for families of loss and fund research into preventing baby loss.”
Among those joining Tina will be Tara Lyons, who has lived in Borehamwood for two years.
Tara said: “I lost my daughter, Sofia, in April 2020, one month after moving to Borehamwood. Sofia was just 15 months old. Not only was it devastating for us as a family, but it was also very unexpected.
“Sofia hadn’t been unwell, or showed any symptoms, but she passed away due to a brain AVM that she would have been born with. I didn’t realise this very special event took place in my local area, but I’m thankful I’ve found out in time for this year’s.”
Tara has worked with her publishers Bloodhound Books, and over 20 authors, to create a charity anthology in memory of Sofia.
All the net profits of Written in the Stars, published on October 17, are in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity and The Butterfly AVM Charity.
Local councillors have also been marking Baby Loss Awareness week.
Kenilworth Labour member Dan Ozarow, who lost two baby siblings and a baby of his own, said: “It is a privilege to be a part of these commemorations.
“Whether we are parents, siblings or other relatives, for those of us in the baby loss community, the pain never goes away but it is eased by remembering our angels and meeting with others to do so.
“So I thank Tina and all those who are helping to make this year’s event such a success and for supporting others by creating this space for them.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here