£27,500 bike ride to Belgium to support bereaved families and newborn babies in West Suffolk
The ride was inspired by the experience of Rhiannon Lawson and her partner Mike, following the loss of their son Hudson.
Twenty-eight cyclists completed the 320-kilometre challenge in aid of My WiSH Charity, which supports West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.
The charity says the £27,502.02 raised will help provide memory boxes for parents who have lost a baby, support its bereavement facilities and fund equipment allowing some newborn babies with jaundice to receive treatment at home.
The ride was inspired by the experience of My WiSH Charity supporter Rhiannon Lawson and her partner Mike, following the loss of their son Hudson.
Hudson was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a rare congenital heart condition, during Rhiannon's pregnancy.
According to West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Rhiannon and Mike made the decision to end the pregnancy following the diagnosis, and Hudson was born on 13 March 2025.
She said: “This ride was our way of giving back, honouring Hudson’s life and helping ensure other families receive the same exceptional care we did.”
Rhiannon said the support they received from My WiSH Charity had made an "unbearable experience gentler, kinder and more human".
Money to support bereavement and neonatal services
The Trust says some of the money raised will provide memory boxes for bereaved parents, which can contain items including hand and footprints and casts to help families preserve memories of their babies.
Funding will also be used to support the bereavement room and buy items designed to help families remain together.
Money allocated to the neonatal unit will help fund a phototherapy unit, which the Trust says will allow some babies with jaundice to be treated at home.
Sally Daniels, grant and appeals manager for My WiSH Charity, said the money would have an "incredible impact" on families experiencing baby loss.
She added: “Rhiannon is an amazing person, she has experienced the greatest loss imaginable and yet she constantly gives back.”
Family's connection to neonatal unit
Four months before the cycling challenge, Rhiannon gave birth to her second son, Lochlan, eight weeks prematurely.
He subsequently received care from West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's neonatal unit and joined his family at stops during the cycling challenge.
The 28 riders, whose experience ranged from beginners to seasoned cyclists, travelled from Cambridge to Bruges over three days, supported by Cycle4Good.
Rhiannon said riding past the hospital during the challenge had been particularly emotional.
She said: “I’m so pleased. I just can’t believe the impact Hudson is going to continue to have because of this and that’s what’s important to me – that he continues to make a difference, and other parents get the support we did.”
Including the money from the bike ride, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust says Rhiannon and Mike have now raised a total of £40,653.77 for My WiSH Charity.