A NI dad has opened up on the heartbreak of losing a child after his daughter died four hours after she was born.
Co Antrim man David Charles is now working with The Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity (Sands) to help and support others who are facing what his family have.
The 44-year-old's daughter Rachel sadly passed away in 2010.
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The Doagh man, who is also dad to Emily (13) and Naomi (9), told Be : "In 2010, my wife Claire was 32 weeks pregnant and went for a routine check up and scan. The doctor was a bit concerned.
"The bottom line, Rachel came early at 32 weeks and only lived for four hours. It was a very sad and tragic situation.
"It was very difficult. You just don't expect it. Everything is good and then everything is not good. It was a challenge for us both but you try and look at the positives.
"The first morning, Sands brought a wee memory box, wee bears and a disposable camera and now my wife has been very involved with them and with meet up groups across the country. Claire coordinates the Antrim ones.
"It is a really good charity for those affected by the loss of a baby, whether it is the daddy, the mummy, aunties, uncles, siblings or grannies and grandas. It gave us a lot of support during the early days."
David has now raised nearly £25,000 for the charity through fundraising cycles covering 3,200 miles in 2021 - and says he is glad that more fathers are opening up about their losses.
The accountant added: "I would be less [open] than my wife but doing this fundraising over the last year has helped keep Rachel's memory alive.
"Dads are more closed up maybe, but a few Sands football clubs have been established over the past few years, they have got bereaved daddies together having a kickabout.
"It was historically maybe a more taboo subject and people didn't really talk about it but [baby loss] can equally effect dads as it does mums.
"In 2020, I thought, 'Rachel would have been ten this year so it'll be nice to give something back to Sands'. The plan was to do ten big cycles but then Covid came along and they got postponed.
"In 2021, I did eleven big cycles to raise funds and awareness for Sands.
"In one of the cycles I was on, there was a granda who had just had a loss and you could just tell he was so affected by it."
David added: "Emily and Naomi talk about having two sisters.
"Rachel is part of our family even though she is not here and it is so important to have her memory with us."
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