Hampshire Grieving Mother takes part in London Marathon
Supporters of the Hampshire Hospitals Charity’s Forget Me Not Fund have become avid runners in the face of tragedy.
As thousands of runners prepare to take on the 2025 London Marathon today, one woman cheering from the side lines will be doing so with pride, strength, and deep emotion.
Gemma Heaver, who recently completed the London Landmarks Half Marathon in memory of her son Oscar, will be supporting her friend and colleague Emily, who is running the full marathon to raise funds for the Hampshire Hospitals Charity’s Forget Me Not Fund.
For Gemma and Emily, running has become a meaningful way to channel their grief and raise awareness for baby loss support.
After the devastating loss of her son Oscar during childbirth, Gemma found comfort in movement—what began as walking to cope with grief eventually became running, giving her the space to breathe, reflect, and heal.
Gemma told us: “The pregnancy had gone so well and we were excited to welcome our baby, a much wanted brother for our son George.
"I’d planned a home birth and it started well. For the first few hours, everything seems to be going as it should. Then something went wrong. We were told we had to go to hospital and, when I arrived, they told me Oscar hadn’t made it.
"I went numb. Giving birth to him was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do."
In the painful aftermath, Gemma and her family were supported by Hampshire Hospitals’ midwifery bereavement team, particularly Laura Mackie, whose care and guidance helped them through those unimaginable early days.
With the help of the Forget Me Not Fund, Gemma received counselling and joined Flutterbyes, a peer support group for bereaved parents.
Gemma took on the half marathon to raise funds for the charity that had supported her so compassionately, running in Oscar’s memory and helping to ensure other families can receive the same level of care.
Now, she’ll be proudly cheering on Emily, who is running the London Marathon this weekend after sadly losing her son, Joshua, at full-term.
She ran the half alongside Gemma and is now, only 3 weeks later, taking part in the London marathon to raise more money and awareness for their lost little boys.
It’s another powerful moment for the Forget Me Not Fund community—families supporting each other, step by step.
Gemma said: "I know that for her running has become a kind of outlet, release, escape, from the day to day living without your child; which is unbearable.
"She has done amazing. To do the half and then the full marathon' for Joshua, to raise money - I am just in awe of her.
"On the half we crossed the finish line hand-in-hand, she was pushing me through, reminding me that we're doing this for our boys.
"I just think she is amazing".
To support Emily’s marathon fundraising, or to donate to the Forget Me Not Fund, visit hampshirehospitalscharity.org or on JustGiving.