M&S launch special range to support Baby Loss Awareness Week

Marks & Spencer has announced plans to launch a special t-shirt and candle to show its support for Baby Loss Awareness Week.

The awareness week runs annually from October 9-15 and sees many parents who have lost babies turn to social media to ‘light’ a virtual candle in memory of their lost little ones.

And now M&S has released a special range to support the cause. The small collection, comprised of a t-shirt and candle, is designed by one of the shop’s buyers, Amy Mott.

The t-shirt, costing £9.50, comes in pink and white with the simple message 'everlasting' written in calligraphy and shows a small heart inside a big one.

A candle, costing £6, has the same message.

The products will be available exclusively online from 29 September.

Meanwhile, the shop will be donating £15,000 to Baby Loss Awareness Week.

A number of celebrities have opened up about the heartbreak of losing a baby, most recently Giovanna Fletcher.

Baby Loss Awareness Week has been running for 16 years and is a collaboration between 16 UK charities.

On the awareness week's official website, it states: 'Every year, thousands of people in the UK are affected by the death of a baby or experience pregnancy loss.

'A collaboration between more than 60 charities across the UK, Baby Loss Awareness Week is held from 9 to 15 October to raise awareness about the key issues affecting those who have experienced pregnancy loss or baby death in the UK.

'Throughout the week bereaved parents, their families and friends, unite with each other and others across the world to commemorate the lives of babies who died during pregnancy, at or soon after birth and in infancy.

'Now in its 16th year, Baby Loss Awareness Week calls for tangible improvements in research, care and policy around bereavement support and highlights bereavement support and services available for anyone affected by the death of a baby at any stage.'

People who buy the candles can light them and post them on social media with the hashtag #Waveoflight to remember babies who passed away too soon.

Words by Saskia Murphy.