Father to Run Seven Marathons in Seven Days for Stillborn Son’s Bereavement Charity

Jack Taylor, 33, from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, whose baby son was stillborn after doctors identified a rare genetic disorder, is undertaking a challenge to run seven marathons in seven days. This effort is in support of a charity that assisted him and his wife, Ellen. At 28 weeks into the pregnancy, a scan revealed that their son, Oscar, was unwell. Doctors subsequently diagnosed Patau’s syndrome, along with a cyst on his brain, heart abnormalities, and an extra digit on one hand. Following Oscar’s death, The Lily Mae Foundation, a bereavement support charity, provided assistance to the couple, which Mr. Taylor described as “brilliant.” Mr. Taylor commented that his challenge, scheduled to begin on Sunday, is “going to be ridiculous,” noting that the final marathon will take place on Oscar’s birthday. The couple shared that they discovered they were expecting their second child in May 2016. Initial concerns regarding the baby’s health were raised during their 12-week scan. However, eight weeks later, further scans indicated that the boy was healthy and growing well. Mr. Taylor stated, “We felt everything was starting to look up although we knew our son may need some testing when he was born.” Yet, Ellen perceived that he was not as active in the womb as their daughter had been and recalls telling her mother that she felt “something else was going on.” After another eight weeks, a subsequent scan confirmed the couple’s anxieties. Medics diagnosed their baby boy with Patau’s syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that the NHS states is caused by an additional copy of chromosome 13. Babies with this condition typically experience slow growth in the womb, have a low birth weight, and present with several other serious medical problems. Mr. Taylor reflected on their difficult decision: “We knew our options and although it was the most horrific choice for us to make, we felt that we had to protect our son from any more pain and suffering.” He added, “We decided to let him go to sleep in mummy’s tummy – where he was most comfortable.” Following the death, the couple received help from The Lily Mae Foundation, a charity dedicated to supporting bereaved parents. Last year, on what would have been Oscar’s seventh birthday, his father chose to run seven miles daily throughout December, but this year he aimed to extend his efforts even further. His current endeavors are intended to raise money for the charity, which he characterized as “brilliant and amazing” for its work. He further elaborated, “I actually don’t remember the days and weeks afterwards, all a bit of a blur, but the charity provided memory boxes and support.” Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.