Mother's heartache after eight-week-old daughter dies

These are the words of Danni Stephenson, 36, whose eight-week-old baby daughter Nevaeh died in February 2018 from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). 

“I always wanted a horse and cart for my wedding day, and Navaeh would’ve wanted that too,” the embalmer from Poole said. 

“I was never going to have the chance to do that with her, so I wanted that to take her to her final place.” 

Navaeh with her older brother jayden (Image: Danni Stephenson)

However, this was difficult for Danni as she and her partner didn’t have the £1,200 to provide this. 

But Poole-based Tyler’s Friends – a charity which supports bereaved parents with funeral wishes and memorials – stepped in to help. 

Six months after Nevaeh’s death, Danni arranged a charity bike ride from Sandbanks to Lytchett Minster to raise money for the charity. Now, nearly six years after, she is doing it again. 

Cycling from New Milton’s Gore Road Cemetary to Harbour View in Lytchett Minster, participants will stop at various other cemeteries in memory of other infants who died from SIDS. 

Taking place on Saturday, May 4, cyclists will travel roughly 50km in memory of infants who died from SIDS and raise money for Tyler’s Friends. 

“I want to give back and help other families like I was helped,” Danni added. 

“Families like us need our help. You prepare to lose your grandparents and your mum and your dad, but not your children... because it shouldn’t be that way.” 

After the ride, there will be a two-day mini festival at the Holme Bush pub in Old Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen. 

The last bike ride in 2018 (Image: Danni Stephenson)

“When you lose a baby, you think predominantly of mummy and daddy... you don’t think of siblings. Jayden [Danni’s son] has been very affected by her loss.  

“So, I really want to push this for the little people and make it great for them. We’ve got live bands, stalls, we’re in talks with a lot of people right now.  

Tyler’s Friends co-founder Kirsten Rust, 47, said: “The funeral directors will do everything they possibly can to help the families, they will give things for free, they won’t charge for their services or a hearse or limousine. 

“But there are outside costs that are not going to be free. They do have a business and while they can help, the costs of flowers, stones and other third party costs can’t be done for nothing. 

“There are charities out there that will help, but it's very minimal because they when the government changed their ways of helping families in 2019 and helped towards some graves, coffins and grave preparation, that is pretty much it.” 

To register your interest in the bike ride, contact Tyler’s Friends on social media or email danni.stephenson1303@gmail.com or call her on 07804 662324.