Thank you for visiting my page - I’ve decided to put my love of autumn and walking together and raise money for Kicks Count on their ‘Run or Ramble’ event. Kicks Count is a small charity on a big mission - preventing babies' being stillborn.

In 2017, the latest published statistics, 2,873 babies were stillborn in the UK. That was a decrease of 7.7% from 2016 and the lowest number since records began. A difference is being made, but there is still work to do. NINE new lives are still being lost every single day and that's too many.

Why is the awareness Kicks Count raise so important?

Around half of mothers who had a stillbirth noticed their baby slowed their movements beforehand. If a baby is getting less nutrients or oxygen, they often move less to conserve energy. Most of the time, a baby moving less is found to be absolutely fine, but it's vital that mums recognise and report the potential warning sign.

Many of you will know that Jon and I welcomed Wesley into the world earlier this year. But things may have turned out very differently... I noticed a couple of instances of reduced movements whilst pregnant and had been in for monitoring with everything being ok. But on the day he was born, something felt different - I hadn’t felt him move as he normally would, and none of the tricks were working. So Jon and I headed down to hospital - we were told his heart rate was dropping, he was in distress and would need to be delivered. I made the call at 09:01 to the labour ward and he was born at 12:16. A shit scary whirlwind of a morning but we had our baby boy arrive safely. We’ll never know exactly why he was in distress and I am a worrier by nature, but I am so thankful I was made aware of the importance of monitoring baby movements, and followed my gut instinct to head to the hospital.

Kicks Count for me, is a lifesaver. Your donation will make a difference and will be put to good use, ensuring more women are made aware of monitoring baby movements and ensuring more babies' arrive safely.

Kim Leyton