Stillbirth Awareness Campaign
Donation protected
During the summer of 2017, SUNUS Ocean Racing with its crew; TV personality and seasoned adventurer Ben Fogle & record holding powerboat racer Tom Montgomery-Swan will attempt to break the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the British Isles by sea in a small 32ft long racing boat.
Both men have suffered the loss of a child, born still at full term and both along with 20 other team members want their event to be a national platform, raising awareness for this often not spoken about tragedy. Many suffer in silence and the team want to break the mold and in a small way offer support to effected families across the country.
Many hospitals across the UK are not equipped to offer real support and care for Stillbirth pregnancies. Much of the equipment created to aid post birth care are not funded by the already stretched National Health Service. Through our activities we would like to do what we can to see more hospitals equipped with vital technology to help those having to go through such an ordeal.
From our own personal experiences there are many practical things that can be done to help provide hospitals with better equipment and support products.
In the UK babies are born still 15 times a day, often the fantastic charities that provide support are investing million's in vital research to stop stillbirth for good, however we feel we can have an instant, reactionary impact with support equipment that can have a positive impact on families NOW rather than in years to come.
Many mum's have to give birth to their still babies on wards full of healthy pregnancies, rather than in their own dedicated rooms, where in privacy they can be given the time to mourn and receive the support they desperately need. Many are left feeling alone, as if they let their children down, that this is more unique than they realise. We plan to use our national events and marine motorsport to help break the silence on this taboo subject, offering a voice for these individuals and point affected ones to the charities experienced in providing care, outside of the support equipment we would like to fund with your help.
The Event:
This 2000 mile epic challenge will truly test the team as they battle some of the worlds toughest seas and the UK's remotest coastlines, non stop to break the current record of 73 hours.
This will challenge the crew to power through no sleep or rest while at the wheel of their record breaking boat, equivalent to 3 Les Mans 24hr car races back-to-back. The team will need to be at the peak of their physical and mental abilities as they master night navigation and sea survival skills as they skipper their vessel around our beautiful but sometimes unforgiving coastline.
The route will include mainland Britain, Ireland and remote islands, a total distance of just over 2000 miles, with a goal record time of 50 hours. With an experienced media team behind them, It is planned that as the team travel around the UK, the record attempt will attract national and local press, further promoting our cause and awareness program.
The boat represents the very latest in marine design, using the most fuel efficient and emission friendly performance engines. The boat too incorporates the well proven racing hull which lowers fuel consumption by effective hydrodynamic design. We will also be using the trip to work on our green technology development, testing natural fibre composites from Flax fibres, rather than traditional non eco-friendly synthetic carbon fibres.
The teams events throughout the 2017 season along with this circumnavigation world record are funded separately by the team's commercial partners who have supported the awareness program. The funds raised within this campaign will go to fund our Stillbirth Awareness Campaign.
The team has already used 2016 to create awareness for Stillbirth. During this time the boat was featured on Amazon Prime's hit TV show; The Grand Tour. The boat was on show at the UK's largest boat show, on show to over 200,000 people. During the normal racing events of the team, the boat won 2 out of 3 events and broke two national speed records, attracting over 40,000 visitors a week to the teams website and social platforms. More visitors than any other UK racing team, superb news for our awareness campaign. Our plan is only to build upon this foundation for 2017 and reach more people with our awareness program.
How the funds raised within this campaign will be spent.
The more our campaign is supported, the more we can do for effected families, although you may not be able to join us on the boat, even if it be a pound, every penny helps and can change a horrific situation for a family near you.
SUNUS Ocean Racing have worked with partners to organise various items for Stillbirth support. From working with Midwives to equip stillbirth delivery rooms to securing trade deals on equipment, making donations go further.
Specifically funds raised will go towards purchasing vital cooling Moses baskets, technology which means parents do not have to send their newborn baby to the mortuary, it allows you time to digest what has happened, get to know your child and invite loved ones to visit you. These are presented in very normal nursery style baskets and are less raw then traditional stainless medical trolleys, taking your baby away to the mortuary.
SOR Baby Boxes are presented in quality boxes that can be kept as a memory box. Containing items you might not think off unless you have been through stillbirth and often do not have available when rushed into a hospital situation. These contain premature neutral clothing, a small digital camera as the NHS only provide medical style photos, some would like to have family photos to treasure. Other items include hand and feet casting kits, keepsake teddy's, information on support charities and networks, parenthood bracelet (for mother and baby) and a swaddle blanket. With funding, these boxes will be distributed to labour wards by mothers who have had stillbirth pregnancies and understand the trauma.
If funding amounts allow, it is the SOR team goal to use our activities to complete a stillbirth recovery room, decorated and finished for medical delivery of a baby however in a softer "non-medical" environment with the privacy parents deserve. Many hospitals do not have this facility, with your help this can be changed.
Remaining funds will be used on various stillbirth awareness events and activities. Donors will be kept up to date on the teams activities, allowing you to feel really part of the team.
We thank you for your support and hope you can join our journey to making a change for good, through a national event which pushes us harder than ever before.
See the boat at this years London Boat Show (6th-15th January) where we will be promoting the boats activities and stillbirth awareness program.
Both men have suffered the loss of a child, born still at full term and both along with 20 other team members want their event to be a national platform, raising awareness for this often not spoken about tragedy. Many suffer in silence and the team want to break the mold and in a small way offer support to effected families across the country.
Many hospitals across the UK are not equipped to offer real support and care for Stillbirth pregnancies. Much of the equipment created to aid post birth care are not funded by the already stretched National Health Service. Through our activities we would like to do what we can to see more hospitals equipped with vital technology to help those having to go through such an ordeal.
From our own personal experiences there are many practical things that can be done to help provide hospitals with better equipment and support products.
In the UK babies are born still 15 times a day, often the fantastic charities that provide support are investing million's in vital research to stop stillbirth for good, however we feel we can have an instant, reactionary impact with support equipment that can have a positive impact on families NOW rather than in years to come.
Many mum's have to give birth to their still babies on wards full of healthy pregnancies, rather than in their own dedicated rooms, where in privacy they can be given the time to mourn and receive the support they desperately need. Many are left feeling alone, as if they let their children down, that this is more unique than they realise. We plan to use our national events and marine motorsport to help break the silence on this taboo subject, offering a voice for these individuals and point affected ones to the charities experienced in providing care, outside of the support equipment we would like to fund with your help.
The Event:
This 2000 mile epic challenge will truly test the team as they battle some of the worlds toughest seas and the UK's remotest coastlines, non stop to break the current record of 73 hours.
This will challenge the crew to power through no sleep or rest while at the wheel of their record breaking boat, equivalent to 3 Les Mans 24hr car races back-to-back. The team will need to be at the peak of their physical and mental abilities as they master night navigation and sea survival skills as they skipper their vessel around our beautiful but sometimes unforgiving coastline.
The route will include mainland Britain, Ireland and remote islands, a total distance of just over 2000 miles, with a goal record time of 50 hours. With an experienced media team behind them, It is planned that as the team travel around the UK, the record attempt will attract national and local press, further promoting our cause and awareness program.
The boat represents the very latest in marine design, using the most fuel efficient and emission friendly performance engines. The boat too incorporates the well proven racing hull which lowers fuel consumption by effective hydrodynamic design. We will also be using the trip to work on our green technology development, testing natural fibre composites from Flax fibres, rather than traditional non eco-friendly synthetic carbon fibres.
The teams events throughout the 2017 season along with this circumnavigation world record are funded separately by the team's commercial partners who have supported the awareness program. The funds raised within this campaign will go to fund our Stillbirth Awareness Campaign.
The team has already used 2016 to create awareness for Stillbirth. During this time the boat was featured on Amazon Prime's hit TV show; The Grand Tour. The boat was on show at the UK's largest boat show, on show to over 200,000 people. During the normal racing events of the team, the boat won 2 out of 3 events and broke two national speed records, attracting over 40,000 visitors a week to the teams website and social platforms. More visitors than any other UK racing team, superb news for our awareness campaign. Our plan is only to build upon this foundation for 2017 and reach more people with our awareness program.
How the funds raised within this campaign will be spent.
The more our campaign is supported, the more we can do for effected families, although you may not be able to join us on the boat, even if it be a pound, every penny helps and can change a horrific situation for a family near you.
SUNUS Ocean Racing have worked with partners to organise various items for Stillbirth support. From working with Midwives to equip stillbirth delivery rooms to securing trade deals on equipment, making donations go further.
Specifically funds raised will go towards purchasing vital cooling Moses baskets, technology which means parents do not have to send their newborn baby to the mortuary, it allows you time to digest what has happened, get to know your child and invite loved ones to visit you. These are presented in very normal nursery style baskets and are less raw then traditional stainless medical trolleys, taking your baby away to the mortuary.
SOR Baby Boxes are presented in quality boxes that can be kept as a memory box. Containing items you might not think off unless you have been through stillbirth and often do not have available when rushed into a hospital situation. These contain premature neutral clothing, a small digital camera as the NHS only provide medical style photos, some would like to have family photos to treasure. Other items include hand and feet casting kits, keepsake teddy's, information on support charities and networks, parenthood bracelet (for mother and baby) and a swaddle blanket. With funding, these boxes will be distributed to labour wards by mothers who have had stillbirth pregnancies and understand the trauma.
If funding amounts allow, it is the SOR team goal to use our activities to complete a stillbirth recovery room, decorated and finished for medical delivery of a baby however in a softer "non-medical" environment with the privacy parents deserve. Many hospitals do not have this facility, with your help this can be changed.
Remaining funds will be used on various stillbirth awareness events and activities. Donors will be kept up to date on the teams activities, allowing you to feel really part of the team.
We thank you for your support and hope you can join our journey to making a change for good, through a national event which pushes us harder than ever before.
See the boat at this years London Boat Show (6th-15th January) where we will be promoting the boats activities and stillbirth awareness program.
Organizer
Tom Montgomery-Swan
Organizer