A Coronet Bay family is inviting the community to support their fundraising for a charity that helps families who have experienced miscarriage.
Amanda and Steven Panayi are raising funds for the charity Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support after enduring the heartache of a miscarriage.
Bears of Hope provides support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.
Amanda and Steven were assisted through their miscarriage by the team at Bass Coast Health and now wish to help Bears of Hope supply hospitals with bags of care items to help others at their time of need.
The bags include a teddy bear with the name of another baby that has been lost to remind a couple they are not alone, as well as candles and information about support and grief.
“Steven and I have one beautiful son Owen who is four-years-old but unfortunately have gone through three miscarriages,” Amanda said.
“During our most recent one, we learnt at our 12-week scan that our baby’s heart had stopped beating. Everything prior to this day was perfectly normal and myself and our bub were fine so this came as a complete shock.”
Amanda and Steven are taking part in Bears of Hope’s Remembrance Walk at Jells Park, Wheelers Hill in Melbourne on Saturday 21 October.
“It is because of the experience that we’ve gone through with three miscarriages that we want to make others aware of the support that is out there,” Amanda said.
“A miscarriage can be something that people keep to themselves and not reach out for support for.”
Donations can be made online at: https://www.choosinghope.com.au
Families who have experienced the loss of their baby can find support at bearsofhope.org.au or by calling 1300 11 HOPE.