Running Tales podcast x TeamDaisy
Click here to listen to the full podcast episode on the Running Tales website.
Breathless, sweat drenched and sore, this may sound like the result of your average running or exercise based challenge. Especially when considering that challenge, the Isle of Wight Challenge 2023 to be exact, consists of a whopping 106km. But turning pain into power is definitely not an alien concept to Wayne Chalmers, founder of the TeamDaisy charity. Wayne, father of the late Daisy Chalmers who sadly only lived for an hour after birth, continues to push and aim higher all in the name of Daisy and aiding those who have suffered the loss of a child. This is evident as he sits down for a chat with Running Tales, a podcast by a running enthusiastic married couple who aims to spotlight the hard work of other everyday runners. Wayne was previously on the podcast only 2 years ago and so much has changed since his last interview!
Wayne shared his passion for propelling the TeamDaisy cause further, detailing how proceeds raised from the charity’s various fundraising ventures would be put towards the development of the Daisy Suite. A suite for newborn bereavement at the Northampton General Hospital, named aptly after Daisy. “There’s still 100 babies, in Northampton alone, dying either prematurely or after birth,” he explains, highlighting a very real grey area. Considering this is nothing particularly new in the world of maternity, it is astounding to think that the range of support available to bereaving families is still not quite there yet.
“There's still 100 babies, in Northampton alone, dying either prematurely or after birth.”
Even the financial element of planning funerals etc, often a panic inducing factor for anyone experiencing grief, was often taken care of by charities. One such charity was Children are Butterflies, a now defunct Northampton charity that supported families who had lost their newborns. Fortunately, the UK government updated policies regarding this since the time the family lost their daughter, with expenses now covered by the government.
“I wanted something a bit more personal for Daisy in Northampton itself.”
A specialist bereavement suite at Northampton General Hospital is an idea that has been discussed for 15 years, as stated by Rob from the Northampton Health Charity. At last, the planning stages have been finalised, prompting the Northampton Health Charity to reach out to Wayne asking for permission to name the suite after Daisy. Of course the Chalmer’s family were thrilled, “I wanted something a bit more personal for Daisy in Northampton itself,” states Wayne. To donate to the Daisy Suite fundraiser click here.
Sponsor Team Daisy in the Isle of Wight Challenge 2023 here