15 September, 2024
Wave of Light 2024
As many of you will know, in 2020 we began an incredible journey with the UK’s largest pregnancy research charity, Tommy’s.
Tommy’s funds medical research into the causes of premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth. Their aim is to stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe - for everyone. They work tirelessly to offer support and care to families struggling with baby loss, to raise awareness, drive change and break down taboos.
In 2020 and every year since, we at P&A have produced Tommy’s official campaign candle for the Wave of Light. With the help of Tommy’s ambassador and best-selling author, Elle Wright we created a soothing Fresh Fig & Jasmine fragrance that has helped to support the campaign for the last four years.
“It is a really soothing scent. There is Lilly of the Valley in there and I have always found that fragrance very peaceful. And some orange blossom which is a natural stress reliever.” – Plum & Ashby Co-founder Vicky.
The Wave of Light happens at 7pm on the 15th of October every year to close Baby Loss Awareness week (9th -15th October). Together, supporters all over the world light a candle to honour and remember every little life lost to premature birth, miscarriage and stillbirth and shine the warm glow of remembrance out in the dark of the evening.
In 2022 we created a video with Tommy’s sharing the voices of women who have experienced and still carry the grief of baby loss in an aim to raise awareness further and spread the message of this amazing charity. It was viewed more than 1 million times over both ours and Tommy’s social media accounts and left us speechless with its honesty and tenderness. As a result of that response, this year we have chosen to do the same. Four amazing women: Elizabeth Day, Natasha Sidhu, Yvonne Bayode and Nadia Anya have shared their stories of heartbreak and loss and explained the huge significance of Baby Loss Awareness Week and the Wave of Light to them and others experiencing the same.
The Wave of Light can be a private moment, and many can carry this kind of grief alone. Social media, for some, can provide a sense of connection and togetherness during a difficult time. These incredible women all have very different journeys, but all have experienced baby loss and by sharing their stories with the world we hope they provide a moment of solidarity to others experiencing the same, whilst also working to raise awareness to help fund lifesaving research and support.
We encourage anyone to light any candle they have to hand on the 15th but 100% of the profits from every single candle we sell does go straight towards Tommy’s work. To date, and along with our wonderful customers help, we have managed to raise over £178,000. Each year we make a minimum commitment, regardless of sales figures, of £35,000 with an overall pledge of £250,000 by 2026. We are very proud to say, however, that the money we have raised has exceeded this by an average of £10,000 every single year and so we hope to raise far more.
Every single candle makes a difference. Each one goes towards funding a 30-minute appointment with one of Tommy’s trained midwives. The money we made last year alone would be enough to fund a full-time midwife at Tommy’s rainbow clinic for a whole year and another for 6 months. It could also fund nearly two of Tommy’s PhD students for a year as they work to understand why pregnancy goes wrong and how to prevent it. It is crucial funding that makes a great deal of difference and a partnership we treasure, and hope continues for many more years to come.
Join us for the Wave of Light at 7pm on the 15th of October by lighting a candle to remember those babies who left us too soon.
You can talk to a Tommy’s midwife for free, Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm on 0800 014 7800 or email midwife@tommys.org.
For more information about Tommy’s and the great work they do, visit www.tommys.org/blaw to sign up for updates from the charity.