S9 E14 | This Bereaved Father Used Running As Therapy

In this deeply emotional episode of The Worst Girl Gang Ever, we sit down with Pete Grimwade, a bereaved father whose unimaginable journey through neonatal loss inspired an awe-inspiring physical and emotional challenge: running 10 marathons in 10 days wearing a 10kg vest, raising nearly £30,000 for 10 life-saving charities.Pete opens up about the pregnancy complications and birth of his daughter Isabella, who was born with multiple complex medical conditions including AVSD (Atrioventricular Septal Defect), dextrocardia, scoliosis, cleft lip, and Goldenhar Syndrome. He shares how he and his wife Charlotte navigated NICU life, the heart-wrenching loss of their baby girl at 10 weeks old, and their battle with grief, trauma, and postnatal mental health.But Pete didn’t stop at surviving the grief - he ran with it. Literally.This is a story of resilience, fundraising, parental love, and community support. Pete’s 10 marathons became not only a physical feat but a way to honour Isabella’s legacy and give back to the services that supported their family. The raw truth of neonatal death and baby loss grief The life and legacy of baby Isabella Goldenhar Syndrome and complex congenital heart defects Coping mechanisms for bereaved fathers Using running and fitness as grief therapy Building community through fundraising and awareness Navigating grief while others in your family are experiencing parenthood How to set emotional boundaries with compassion Resources that helped: including The Worst Girl Gang Ever podcastRonald McDonald House, Evelina London, British Heart Foundation, Bliss, Sands, CLAPA (Cleft Lip and Palate Association), The Early Birth Association, Samaritans, Goldenhar UK, and For Louis.About The Worst Girl Gang Ever:The Worst Girl Gang Ever is a real, honest, and emotive podcast that covers the heartbreaking subject of miscarriage, infertility, and baby loss. Expect raw conversations about unspoken experiences, hosted by TWGGE founders Bex Gunn and Laura Buckingham. This show aims to break the silence and open dialogue around miscarriage and pregnancy loss. No more shame, no more taboo—let’s change the narrative for future generations.Support and Resources:Access The WarriorshipThe Warriorship is our free peer to peer membership platform, connecting you with others who ‘just get it’ through whats app groups, online drop in sessions, a book club, creative workshops and informative webinars. Join now and instantly connect with others who understand the challenges you face.https://theworstgirlgangever.co.uk/membership/Our bookWe are here to tell you that you are entitled to grieve, and that your grief is not disproportionate to your loss. We are here to open up the dialogue around miscarriage, so we don’t perpetuate the shame, judgement and isolation so many of us feel following pregnancy loss. We are here to equip you with knowledge, tools and guidance to support and help you in whatever way you need.https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/0008524998/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?ie=UTF8&Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are The Worst Girl Gang Ever Foundation. We’re all about bringing people together who are going through the tough stuff — baby loss, infertility, and everything in between — and making sure no one has to face it alone. Our community is full of honesty, compassion, and real talk, offering support, understanding, and hope when it’s needed most. You can find out more and connect with us over at www.theworstgirlgangever.co.uk