Couple Aim For South Run After Having Two Miscarriages

Enter the Simplyhealth Great South Run at: Greatrun.org/South

A couple who went through the trauma of two miscarriages are taking on a 10 mile fundraising challenge after they used running to help them through their heartache.

Ruth and Richard Trethewey, from Portsmouth, lost two babies during Ruth’s pregnancies this year and wanted to find something that would fill the void of the negative experiences they had gone through in 2017.

The couple also hope to spread awareness about the emotional affects of miscarriages and will aim to raise funds for a charity close to their hearts.

Ruth, 35, went through her first miscarriage in February, which she described as a ‘very traumatic and distressing’ experience.

She was three months pregnant and found it very hard to remain positive during such a dark time after going through several days of pain during the miscarriage.

The couple then fell pregnant again earlier this year but Ruth remained worried that something was wrong after their previous experience of losing a child.

After early scans which proved reassuring, tragically in July, Ruth and Richard were told that their baby no longer had a heart beat or movement.

This news that they had lost their second child devastated the couple, who were 10 weeks into the pregnancy.

During the time after their second miscarriage, the couple found it hard to cope with their anxiety as they wanted children but struggled to remain positive about the possibility of conceiving.

Ruth and Richard then started running together as it was something they both enjoyed in the past.

They signed up to the Simplyhealth Great South Run, which takes place on Sunday 22 October as they knew that training for a goal would help them clear their minds and to give them a new focus.

They then decided that they would also aim to raise awareness about their experience to help others who will go through the same thing in the future.

Ruth, who is a doctor and currently studying for a PhD said: “This was our 2nd pregnancy as we lost our first child at 3 months back in February.

“I was worried that something might be wrong in this pregnancy, particularly after last time so we had a scan early on which showed a baby with a heart beat and limbs.

“Doctors kept a close eye on things as they were concerned there might have been something wrong with me. “We had further monitoring scans and the first two were fairly reassuring.

“But at the last one we were told there was no longer a heart beat or movement, we were really shocked and distraught.

“Both miscarriages were fairly traumatic – I get the feeling that most people think it is a single one off event that you then get over, but this isn’t true.

“After going through such a loss for the second time, Richard and I felt like we needed a goal and something to fill the void that we knew from our last experience that we would have for the next few months.

“We have both ran in the past and decided to start again as we knew it was something we could do together.

“Our family has previously done the Great South Run together so we knew this was something we would be able to enjoy as it’s a fun event with an amazing atmosphere which is just what we needed.”

Richard and Ruth will take on the world’s leading 10 mile running event with over 20,000 others across a fast and flat course around Portsmouth and Southsea.

Participants start on Clarence Esplanade before being given the unique opportunity to run through Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose.

The couple are raising money for the Miscarriage Association and have already surpassed their £1,000 target.

Ruth added: “After the second miscarriage, we found coping mentally was hard work, but running has given us a sense of positivity. We also think it would be helpful for other people to know why we were doing it and to try and get others to support us.

“Misscarriage and early pregnancy is still a taboo subject, which I think is wrong. It’s a time when you are going through a range of emotions and for many it is a physical struggle.

“We wanted to not only raise the profile of miscarriage, but also try to do something to improve the support for women and their partners – Having not run for a while and with everything we’ve been through both physically and mentally it is going to be a challenge, but one we’re both ready to take on.”

Support Ruth and Richard’s fundraising here.

Enter the Simplyhealth Great South Run at: Greatrun.org/South