Team Cycle for Rachel | Co Antrim man cycles 3,200 miles raising £25,000 for SANDS NI

County Antrim man David Charles has just completed 10 epic cycle challenges over the last 18 months, covering a mammoth 3,200 miles, managing to raise an amazing £24,494 for Sands NI in memory of his beloved daughter Rachel.

Sands NI (Stillbirth And Neonatal Death Support) is a volunteer-led group that supports anyone affected by the death of a baby, by working to improve the care bereaved parents receive, through promoting research and working closely with many different organisations to reduce the loss of babies’ lives.

Under the banner ‘Team Cycle for Rachel’, David started out on his challenge back in 2020 and his endeavour seems him cycling laps of Lough Neagh, and Loch Ness in Scotland.

Supported by wife Claire, daughters Emily and Naomi, and a number of good friends, his efforts helped the pounds roll in as he cycled his way to the finale last Saturday (23 April).

The Doagh couple were inspired to raise funds for Sands NI, to honour and celebrate their baby daughter Rachel, who sadly died in 2010 and would have been 10 years old in September 2020 - inspiring the start of his 10 cycle challenge.

David and Claire first encountered Sands NI when they experienced the devastating sense of loss that many couples in our community have experienced when things do not go as planned.

David recounted his memory of that day:

“My memory of Rachel being born is silence - complete silence. No crying, no baby noises, no gurgling noises; just complete silence. The Doctors and nurses worked so hard to do what they could but in that complete silence I knew that it was going to be vain.

“Rachel was with us for a couple of hours before she died in her mummy's arms surrounded by her family. Without doubt, this is the most difficult thing that we have had to experience. People say that no parent should have to bury their child and I can agree with this completely.”

David continued: “The staff at the hospital were brilliant; providing such professional, high quality, compassionate care. Sands NI also provided us with fantastic support during this time. We received a memory box on the day Rachel died, which included a little blanket, a teddy bear and a camera for us to take photos with us.”

David and Claire both feel very passionate about the charity after receiving such positive support during what was such a very difficult time.

The couple continued to find comfort and strength when they began attending the organisation’s Antrim support group a few weeks after Claire was discharged from hospital. The group, which meets every first Thursday evening of every month, provided them both with an opportunity to share, to listen, to cry, and to just sit there with other parents who had shared similar experiences.

The funds raised by ‘Team Cycle for Rachel’ will make a tremendous difference for the charity and will enable the volunteers to continue supporting other couples during very painful and dark times.

Last Saturday, to mark the end of David’s cycling challenges, a “small band of cyclists” met at Portadown Boat Club and enjoyed a cycle along Newry Canal Towpath before David handed over the cheque to the charity.

“Thank you to everybody who supported, donated and joined Team Cycle for Rachel,” David said. “It’s has been a brilliant experience, raising awareness for great charity Sands, remembering our little girl Rachel who sadly died in 2010 and getting a little bit fit along the way.”

David concluded: “Rachel went from our lives 12 years ago but she remains very much with us each and every day. At the time somebody sent me a text which said, ‘An Angel in the book of life wrote down our Rachel's birth, then whispered, as she closed the book, "too beautiful for this earth.”’

“That makes me smile now.”