DOZENS of parents who lost babies during pregnancy or shortly after birth will join together at a service of remembrance.

The Wave of Light service at St Nicholas Church in Long Road, Canvey, will be held this evening.

Organised by volunteers from the group, From My Womb, To My Heart, 50 individual white roses were also given out to parents with the names of their children who they sadly lost.

It is being treated as an opportunity for parents to speak about loss and receive support from people in the same position.

It takes place during Baby Loss Awareness week.

Luisa Castellana, 38, of Western Esplanade will be attending the service, having lost a baby ten years ago when she was nine weeks pregnant.

She said: “It was devastating for me, it did not help that people were telling me I had two children anyway.

“There are some people like myself who have been totally honest and forthcoming about losing a child, but sometimes there are people cannot speak about it.

“It is also not just a grieving process for the parent but everyone around as well.

“To be able to create awareness of what people are going through and to help those who do not feel they can speak about the loss of a child is what this service is all about.”

Kerry Ann Carter, 32, one of the six founding members of From My Womb, To My Heart, alongside Luisa, lost her baby boy after he was born at 18 weeks.

She said the service is the first the Canvey group has ever held.

Kerry Ann said: “The white roses were gifted to anyone who wanted to keep one.

“It gave them a chance to speak about who they were feeling after losing a child or any loved one.

“Canvey is being landmarked so to speak as part of the services happening across the country.

“We encourage families to come along and raise awareness that every life matters, whether the loved one you lost is a new born or 45 years old, they are still someone’s child.

“We are very thankful to the church who have been very supportive with this service and it is going to be absolutely beautiful.”

The Wave of Light Service will take place from 6.30pm tonight.

If you have experienced the loss of a child, speak to the group at www.facebook.com/FromMyWombToMyHeart