Family taking on Walk for Wards in memory of their baby daughter Goldie

A team of over twenty friends and family will be stepping out this September for our annual Walk for Wards in memory of baby Goldie Isabella Carter.

Leading the group are Goldie’s parents, Lucy and Jack Carter, who lost their daughter at 32 weeks pregnant in April this year. Together the group are raising funds for the Butterfly Suite at Southend Hospital — our dedicated maternity bereavement suite which allowed the family to spend precious time with Goldie.

After a healthy start to their pregnancy, Lucy and Jack were devastated when scans revealed their baby had developed Progressive Arthrogryposis, a rare condition which their daughter could not survive following birth.

“The Butterfly Suite gave us the time and space to be with Goldie, to hold her, and for our daughter Rosie to meet her little sister,” said Lucy. “We are walking to honour Goldie’s memory and to support the hospital team who helped us through the darkest days of our lives.”

Our popular Walk for Wards is a free, family-friendly fundraising event which welcomes everyone. It’ll see fundraisers take on a 7 km circular walk along Southend seafront. Our walkers can support any of our Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust hospitals or wards by raising at least £25 in sponsorship.

To sign up to Walk for Wards 2025, visit: www.msehospitalscharity.co.uk/event/walk-for-wards

To support Lucy and Jack’s fundraising for the butterfly suite, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/goldiesstory