1 week Ago By [email protected] (Deborah Hall)
A Hull man who saw the devastation caused by his newborn nephew’s death has set himself a charity challenge in his memory. Joel Redhead is to join a friend, Shane Cole, on his first ever long-distance hike to support the Hull-based charity, Chasing Rainbows. Joel’s sister and brother-in-law sadly lost their son, Jude, shortly after he was born on November 26, 2024.
The pair will set out from Coventry, where Shane lives, on Tuesday, April 29, walking 15 hours a day for five days to cover a distance of 140 miles to Snowdonia. The hike will culminate in an ascent of Yr Wyddfa, or Snowdon, Wales’ highest peak. Joel said: “Me and all my siblings are really close and to see what happened to my sister was heartbreaking.
It was the worst nightmare you can think of, I have children myself. “We went to the hospital to meet Jude and to support my sister. I remember seeing how devastated she and my brother-in-law were, I was so worried and concerned for them and how they would be able to move forward, and that’s where Chasing Rainbows came in.
Keep up to date with all the latest breaking news and top stories from Hull with our free newsletter “From that moment, the charity has supported them like you wouldn’t believe. There are support groups and trips away with other parents who have sadly lost children. “I think it’s really important.
You know you have the support of your family with stuff but they can’t relate to it like someone who has been through exactly the same as you. “My sister and her husband are still healing and they will be for a long time, but with Chasing Rainbows they will continue to help them going forwards. Without this charity, it’s unthinkable what position they and so many other families would be in.
” The money raised – Joel has set up JustGiving appeal page - will be donated directly to Chasing Rainbows, an independent charity that raises vital funds for families who have been through infertility, recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy and baby loss so they can experience funded support groups and events/trips alongside other families who have been through similar situations as part of their healing process. Their initial target is £10,000, with the total already over £8,000 just two weeks since launch. Joel said: “Chasing Rainbows have told us that that £5,000 will fund 50 support groups, and keep them going for a couple of years.
When we get to £10,000, that next £5,000 will fund baby hand and feet castings for a full year. “The highest amount they have had donated is £10,000, so we are setting out to give the biggest donation yet. We think once we are on our way and posting videos about where we are and how it’s going, that more people might donate, and we think people will be joining us at the start or finish of a day or along the route to give us moral support.
” Joel struck up a friendship with Shane through their work as digital content creators, when they were involved in a different charity event supporting mental health. They decided to embark on the fundraiser together, never having tackled such a walking/climbing challenge before. “We’ll be sleeping in tents along the way.
We’re hoping the weather will be kind.” Joel and Shane will be posting on TikTok and you can find them there @redheadresidence and @shanecoleofficial Don't miss a thing. Get all the latest breaking news in Hull straight to your mobile via WhatsApp by clicking here .
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