A FEARNHEAD mum has said while training for the London marathon has been tough, it is nothing compared to what the parents go through who her chosen charity helps.

Gemma Antell, of Fearnhead Lane, is hoping to raise £2,000 for Life After Loss after losing her baby in August 2004 following a 12 week and four day pregnancy.

Since then the 31-year-old has been supporting the cause based at Warrington Hospital by helping to provide memory boxes for couples who lose a child and a support group for grieving parents.

The mum-of-three added: “At the time I left the hospital with a leaflet and there was no information about what had happened to me or where to turn for support.

“It’s horrible as you have already built up a picture in your head of your baby and it’s not like losing someone you have memories with as it’s more about the things you’re never going to get to do.

“It’s emotionally draining working with the charity and meeting mums in the same position but after doing it for so long now it’s rewarding to see parents come out the other side of the tunnel.”

Gemma, who is mum to Lily, aged eight, Lincoln, aged six and Dexter, aged one, admits she had not even run a 5k before she started training for the marathon and has been juggling it around looking after her children.

Sponsorship cash will go towards creating memory boxes filled with items including teddies, a candle and forgot me not seeds for parents going through a bereavement.

Gemma added: “I have seen first hand the difference it makes and the impact this charity has on families in Warrington.

“Parents often come back and tell us how much the memories boxes and support meant to them at the time and they don’t know what they would have done without the charity.

“I used to say I would run a marathon every day to keep the cause going but now I’ve started training that seems like a stupid idea!

“But what I have been putting myself through is nothing compared to what parents who have lost a baby go through which keeps me going when I feel like giving up.”

Donate via justgiving.com/gemmajoobjoobruns.