Two Guernsey mums who share the pain of losing a baby are gearing up for their first marathon run together to raise money for pregnancy research and support charity Tommy’s.
Layla Bruce and Danni Williams met three years ago as colleagues at Offshore Electronics.
Discovering they had both been through the trauma of pregnancy loss helped to cement their friendship – and the pair have since taken on numerous fundraising challenges and activities together.
On Sunday (6 April) they will run the Brighton Marathon – Layla in memory of her son Oliver, who she lost 19 weeks into her pregnancy in 2019, and Danni in memory of the daughter she lost when she was 16 weeks pregnant in 2005.
Both were affected by pregnancy complications that prevented their babies from developing and growing normally.
They have so far raised around £6,000 for Tommy’s, the UK’s leading charity funding research into pregnancy complications and baby loss and providing support for families living through those experiences.
Danni, 46 – now mum to sons Lennon, 19, and Jax,13 – said: “When my husband Jay and I lost our daughter 20 years ago there was really nowhere to turn to. You couldn’t go online and connect with other people who would immediately understand.
“I never named my baby or had any photos of her. Nobody really talked about it then.
“So I really want to help raise the profile of Tommy’s and let everyone know there is that support available now.”
Layla, 37, who will be cheered on at the marathon by her partner Richie and the couple’s son Jack, 11, said she felt able to be more open when she and Richie lost Oliver in 2019.
“I was working in a sandwich shop at the time and I went back to work the week afterwards. When customers said they were sorry I hadn’t been well I always told them ‘I lost my son.’
“Lots of people didn’t know how to react. But we will always talk about him. We will always be honest and open about him and I think that helps the healing process.”
