Bereaved Eastbourne man encourages more dads to speak up after baby loss
Joel Mitchell is marking what would have been his stillborn daughter Maisie's 18th birthday by taking part in the Great South Run.
A bereaved Eastbourne man hoping to encourage more dads to speak up after experiencing baby loss.
Joel Mitchell is marking what would have been his stillborn daughter Maisie's 18th birthday by taking part in the Great South Run.
He's completing the ten-mile route with his son, Jasper, on behalf of Muma Nurture, an Eastbourne charity that provides counselling for bereaved parents.
"There is a bit of a void for dads, for bereaved fathers," Joel told Greatest Hits Radio.
"There is still a bit of a stereotypical stiff upper lip amongst men, although it's easing.
"For me, the role of the dad was a difficult one to negotiate because I was suffering myself and I was really, really sad, but also was trying to process and support and offer care for everybody else affected."
His story comes after research from charity Tommy's found almost two thirds of dads needs help opening up after baby loss.
Joel shared that the support of his own family and friends was "incredibly important" - even discovering a friend of his had also been through similar once he opened up.
"What you find is if you are open and happy to share, you will find other people come out of the woodwork who've had a similar experience and can share their learnings with you,"
"I think we need to break down the society barriers that tell men that they need to be tough.
"Because it is that, it is that humanity, it is that compassion, it is that collaboration and that sharing that gets people through the difficult times."
Joel's son, Jasper, added that "it means a lot" to be able to run for his sister:
"Her memory is always there for us.
"Now for her 18th to be able to do something as special and like monumental as this, to mark the occasion is really, really special for me and I'm really glad to take a part in it with my dad."
The pair have raised over £1,400 so far.