Geelong walk to honour babies lost too soon

FAMILIES who have experienced the loss of a baby will unite at Eastern Park Circuit on October 26 for the Choosing Hope Walk.

Run by Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, the walk honours, remembers and supports those impacted by such a loss.

Bears of Hope fundraising liaison Abby Dante said the group will be taking steps in honour of babies.

“It’s really important that we can bring our local communities together to acknowledge our babies that we have lost, whether that was during pregnancy, birth or infancy.

“To be able to receive the support that you get from being around other people who have had a similar experience to you, is a really, really healing thing that we can do.”

Following the walk, attendees will gather for a special remembrance service, where the group will come together to speak their babies’ names aloud.

This year marks the second instalment of the Choosing Hope Walk in Geelong, with event organisers already breaking last year’s attendance numbers.

Held in October for International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Day, more than 70 people have registered for the 2025 walk, compared to the 52 adults who attended last year.

For Bears of Hope, the walk is the organisation’s single largest face-to-face support gathering held annually and also its largest standalone fundraising event.

All money raised from the walk will go towards funding the bear support packages that go into hospitals and anything beyond that will provide for its support services.

Beyond the fundraising aspect of the day, Ms Dante wants people to get a feeling of support from the walk.

“We hope that people can make connections with other people in their community and we hope that they can walk away having felt like they have been able to honour their baby.”

The walk will step off from 1.30pm, with presale tickets available until this Sunday, October, 19.

For more information and to register for the event, head to choosinghope.com.au