Bereaved dad pushes himself to limit for stillbirth research

A British father is to take on two extreme physical challenges in just one week to raise vital funds for stillbirth research, in memory of his stillborn daughter, Kallipateira.

Despite tearing his right knee ligament just eight weeks ago, Ben Moorhouse – who works at a Halifax Housing Association – will walk 120 miles nonstop, without sleep.

Starting at the Angel of the North in Gateshead on Saturday 12 July, 42-year-old Ben will make his way to Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic and Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre at Saint Mary’s Hospital – the specialist unit that helped save his son’s life.

Just seven days later, after flying to Rhodes, Ben will climb the steep mountain road to Prophet Elias Monastery in Faliraki, Greece an exhausting 50 times – a gruelling test of endurance with no shade and where temperatures are likely to soar above 40°C.

Ben said: “This year has brought mountains I’ve had to climb emotionally and physically. Now, I’m preparing to put myself through the mill – fuelled by love, grief, and purpose,” said Ben.

“There’s no pain greater than holding your dead baby in your arms – but every step I take will honour Kallipateira and help save other babies across the UK.

“I will once again show that because of love and a reason why, anything is possible.”

Ben is aiming to raise £20,000 for Professor Alex Heazell, Director of the Tommy’s Stillbirth Research Centre and the University of Manchester-based team leading UK research to reduce preventable stillbirths and support families through pregnancy after loss.

Ben and his partner Gaynor Thompson lost their daughter Kallipateira to a preventable stillbirth at 37 weeks in October 2018. They later suffered a miscarriage in 2019.

Determined to stop other families going through the same heartbreak, they founded The Kallipateira Moorhouse Foundation, which funds research and supports families affected by baby loss.

In 2020, their son Apollon was born safely at Tommy’s Rainbow Clinic, thanks to the specialist care of Professor Heazell.

Every day in the UK, eight babies are stillborn – many of which are preventable.

The funds Ben raises will go directly to Professor Heazell’s team, who are making groundbreaking progress in understanding stillbirth and supporting parents in pregnancy after loss.

Alex Heazell, who is also Professor of Obstetrics at The University of Manchester and Honorary Consultant Obstetrician at Saint Mary’s Hospital, part of MFT, said: “Ben’s unwavering commitment is extraordinary.

“His support has already helped us improve care for families and expand our research into stillbirth prevention.

“These challenges will fund new projects that could save lives.”

To support Ben’s Mission donate now at: https://www.justgiving.com/page/kmf2024