A candlelit walk to remember children who have died will be held on the Mall in Armagh this week.
This the second annual ‘Light up the Night and Walk with the Stars’ event.
It will take place on Wednesday, December 13 at 6.30pm, with people asked to meet at the court side of the mall.
It has been organised by Alisha Devlin, a young Armagh mother who lost her newborn son Lochlann four years ago this Christmas.
Alisha and partner Owen Quinn had been eagerly awaiting the birth in 2019 but were devastated to learn on Christmas Eve that their son’s heart had stopped beating.
Lochlann was stillborn on Christmas Day at 41 weeks and two days.
Money raised by by the walk will go to support the work of Little Forget Me Nots Trust, a charity set up by Lurgan woman Louise Taylor who lost her firstborn son Ruben mid-way through her pregnancy.
Writing on her JustGiving page, Alisha said: “Little Forget Me Nots Trust helped myself and many other families through the darkest days and continue to support us through the good and bad ones.
“The work they do with families affected by the loss of a child is amazing, helping parents and siblings navigate through their grief in alternative ways, and bringing awareness to the wider community about the struggles families face after baby loss.
“Last year we had a lovely turn out. Despite the snow and cold it warmed my heart to see so many people supporting us, and remembering those precious children spending Christmas in the stars and not around their families’ Christmas trees.”
Participants will carry Christmas lights and candles, each bearing the name of a child, with refreshments afterwards at Vibe Cafe, provided by Elsie’s Bistro and Lochlann’s family.
Anyone who can’t take part in the walk is invited to light a candle virtually on Wednesday evening and share the moment on social media.
Donations may also be made to Alisha’s JustGiving page.
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