OUR PATRONS
We are proud and honoured to have the support of our wonderful patrons who have an intimate understanding of baby loss.
Their energy and passion has helped raise the profile of Teddy's Wish and the public's awareness of baby loss.
Dan Snow OBE
Dan Snow is a television presenter, historian, broadcaster and author. An Oxford graduate in Modern History, Dan’s award-winning career spans popular history documentaries and the UK’s most successful history podcast.
A friend of ours, Dan kindly hosted our inaugural black-tie dinner and he continues to work with us as a patron of the charity.
“I am proud and humbled to be associated with Teddy’s Wish. The loss of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare and I fully support the charity’s aim to drive research in this area while providing support to bereaved families”.
Elle Wright
Elle Wright is a blogger and author of The Sunday Times Bestselling book Ask Me His Name. Writing about the loss of her son, Teddy, who died at 3 days old in 2016, Elle has been instrumental in opening up the conversation around pregnancy and child loss to the media. You can find her on her very popular blog Feathering The Empty Nest or @feathering_the_empty_nest on Instagram where she shares fundraising initiatives for Teddy’s Legacy.
“Being part of the Teddy’s Wish family and offering my support is something that means a lot to me. As a bereaved parent myself I have experienced first hand the level of support that is available to bereaved families without the funding from charities like Teddy’s Wish. It is an absolute honour to be a part of something that will continue to fund both research and bereavement support for families who experience the loss of a baby, and to know that no one will have to go on that journey alone.”
Jenni Thomas OBE
Jenni has spent 45 years helping grieving families through her work in the NHS and at Child Bereavement UK, the charity she founded in 1994. She is widely recognised as a leading authority on bereavement support and education. After the tragic loss of our son Edward, Jenni’s support enabled us to gather the strength to face life again and to set up Teddy’s Wish in his honour.
“I am so proud and honoured to become a patron of Teddy’s Wish and to support Jen and Chris in their ongoing efforts to raise funds for vital research and bereavement support. The majority of bereavement support in the UK is funded through charitable donations, without which this essential service would not be available. It is so important to ensure the support continues to be provided and we help support these devastated families regain hope and purpose in their lives again. I am sure little Edward will be so proud of his parents and the work they are doing”.
Caro Tasker
Caro Tasker runs The Spikey, a platform to open the narrative and educate on neurodiversity. Caro has 4 children, her first son Freddie, died shortly after he was born prematurely in September 2002. Since then Caro and her husband have gone on to raise money and awareness in Freddie’s memory, working with Tommy’s the baby charity, The Child Bereavement Charity and Borne.
"I am delighted to be involved in Teddy’s Wish. When Freddie died in 2002, support was so limited. Bereavement is isolating and it doesn’t need to be this way, Teddy’s Wish offers help to those who are in need and essentially this help comes from a place of true understanding. Baby loss is an inordinately challenging journey, to be part of this charity, a place which offers hope and importantly validation of feeling, is both a comfort and an honour."
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Dr Claire Agathou
Claire is a highly experienced London-based NHS and private GP, Co-Founder of The A-Z General Practice, and Named GP for Child Safeguarding in Camden. She has a strong interest in preventative, patient-centred care, with a particular passion for paediatric and women’s health.
She has significant experience in safeguarding and supporting individuals and families through complex and sensitive health challenges, including pregnancy loss and bereavement. In her role as Named GP for Child Safeguarding in Camden, she works closely with multidisciplinary teams to protect and advocate for vulnerable children and families.
Claire’s connection to Teddy’s Wish is deeply personal. In 2018, she was introduced to Jen and Chris through a mutual connection. As they shared their stories, they realised they were connected by the same experience. Claire had been part of the paediatric resuscitation team on the night Eddie died - an experience that profoundly impacted her. Despite every effort to save Eddie, his loss was felt deeply and will remain with her always.
“I am incredibly proud of what Jen and Chris have created through their loss, transforming profound sadness into meaningful support for other families, as well as for healthcare professionals affected by baby loss”
Claire is passionate about improving awareness, support, and research into baby loss, including the vital work to support healthcare professionals affected by such loss, and is proud to contribute both her clinical insight and commitment to compassionate care to the charity’s work.
“Thank you so much for providing the opportunity for us to attend the retreat. It was nothing short of life changing for us. The ability to spend time and connect with other parents who have lost a baby in the same and similar circumstances to us was truly invaluable."
Laura & Galin, Bereaved Parents