A SPECIAL service will be held at Bradford Cathedral for people affected by the loss of a baby - whether that be during pregnancy, at birth or in infancy. 

The 'Saying Goodbye' services launched in 2012 and are organised by The Mariposa Trust, which provides support to people affected by baby loss, pregnancy after baby loss, fertility, adoption and more.

The charity was founded by Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, who sadly suffered the loss of five babies. They saw that there was an extreme lack of support available to parents like them, and so decided to start the services. 

It has become the leading support charity in this area, leading to Zoe being appointed chair of the National Pregnancy Loss Review, looking at all pre-24-week baby loss in the UK.

Baby loss affects around 1 in 4 pregnancies each year in the UK, with nearly 700 babies lost each day.

The services allow people to stand with others who have experienced the similar trauma of baby loss, and collectively acknowledge and remember each life lost.

They are open to people of faith or no faith, whether people have lost recently or decades ago, and welcome not only parents, but also the extended family and friends. The services are uplifting and moving events filled with music, poems, acts of remembrance and more.

Zoe said: “We invite anyone who has gone through or been affected by baby loss, to join us for this special event. Come and join with others who have been through a similar expereince, in remembering all those who have gone too soon, because every baby matters."

The Bradford Cathedral service will be held on Sunday, October 27, at 4pm. 

More information on the charity can be found at www.mariposatrust.org and via www.sayinggoodbye.org.

The charity has a number of social media pages, and can be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sayinggoodbyeuk and on Twitter @SayingGoodbyeUK.