A GROUP of 12 bereaved mothers climbed Snowdon last month to raise money after their children all died unexpectedly without explanation.
The group of women from all over the country took on the climb on September 16 in aid of raising funds and awareness for charity Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood UK (SUDC UK).
Clare Bowie, a sales enablement program manager from Fleet, was one of 12 women who climbed Snowdon.
Claire sadly lost her child Thomas who died aged 20 months in 2012 suddenly and without explanation to this day.
She said: "I climbed to remember my son, to be with other mums and to raise funds for research to decrease further unexplained deaths."
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The mothers banded together to climb an actual mountain in recognition of their virtual mountain climbed every day since their children died unexpectedly without explanation.
Despite varying levels of fitness and preparation, every member of the group summitted via the challenging Pyg Track route in just 4.5 hours, each carrying a symbol of remembrance for their child that they placed on the peak.
Nikki Speed, chief executive of SUDC UK, who lost her child Rosie also at the age of two said: "There is nothing quite like looking another parent in the eye that truly understands the impact of losing your little boy or girl so suddenly and not knowing why. Coming together to climb this mountain gave me immense comfort and hope.
"We would have done anything to save our children and together, we are determined to inspire the support needed to save other children's lives and stop SUDC. Through research and awareness, we will find answers."
The group and the charity’s aim is to fund research into potential explanations for their children’s deaths thus preventing others, and to highlight this growing phenomenon with the aim of receiving funding and policy support from Government.
A sudden unexplained death in childhood occurs every 1-2 weeks in the UK yet there is no government funding and very little awareness.
To support the groups fundraising efforts go to
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