A 26-mile fundraising walk connecting Nottingham landmarks including Trent Bridge and Meadow Lane, was not only ‘a powerful day of community, remembrance and support for the city’s baby loss communities’, according to the event’s organisers Forever Stars, but also raised a record-breaking £8,000.
The charity, which is dedicated to supporting bereaved families and raising awareness around baby loss, had its annual ‘One Step at a Time’ marathon walk on Friday 10 October 2025.
Each year, the event is a symbol of the challenging journey that families endure as they cope with the loss of a baby, as well as an opportunity for the Forever Stars’ and baby loss communities to unite in memory of their rainbow babies.
The 26-mile annual walk was part of a series of events organised by the charity’s army of volunteers to mark this year’s Baby Loss Awareness Week (BLAW), and Forever Stars’ own annual Pink and Blue Day. The charities busy programme of fundraising events throughout BLAW raised £36,000.
This year’s walk was bigger than ever before, with around 60 walkers taking part. The group made stops around the city, each supported by local Nottingham-based organisations, and started from the Harrington Arms, Sawley, along the canal to Beeston, onto Meadow Lane, Trent Bridge and Holme Pierrepont, along the side of the River Trent, finishing at The Boat and Horses Pub in Beeston.
Forever Stars’ Richard Daniels said: “One Step at a Time is a fantastic event which is so much more than just a walk. Firstly, it is a tangible way to acknowledge the incredibly tough journey for families coping with the loss of a baby, aptly encapsulated by the walk’s name. Secondly, it is a powerful statement of solidarity with those who have experienced the devastating loss of a baby. Finally, it is an opportunity for us to walk together in memory of the babies we hold in our hearts, and for individuals, supporters and businesses, to come together to raise funds for Forever Stars.”
In 2025, Forever Stars’ flagship fundraiser is its Talking Through Tears campaign. Richard explains: “This is aiming to raise £60,000 to help support as many baby loss siblings as possible who need that extra emotional support when dealing with the trauma of losing a baby in their family.
“All funds raised are and will go directly towards delivering vital emotional support for children impacted by baby loss. This includes specialist play therapy sessions designed to help children express grief in a safe, age-appropriate way, faster access to support to reduce waiting times during moments that matter most, and completely free play therapy sessions so that no family is turned away due to financial hardship.”
“As well as the marathon walk, Forever Stars had a jam-packed programme of fun events throughout BLAW,” said Richard. “This kicked off with our Pink and Blue Ball, followed by our Chasing Stars Charity Quiz Night, and various cake sales, with the week finishing on a high with the One Step at a Time walk.”
Find out more about Forever Stars’ Talking Through Tears: www.foreverstars.org/talking-through-the-tears/, and to make a donation or fundraise, visit the campaign’s JustGiving page, or email Forever Stars: [email protected].