When Roger and Bec found out they were pregnant in 2017, they never imagined their journey would end in heartbreak.
On 29th October, Bec went into early labour. Their daughter Esmé was just 24 weeks and five days old when they were transferred to Jessops.
Five days later, on 3rd November, Esmé was born on her mum’s birthday.
She was immediately taken to the neonatal unit, where she spent the next two weeks. Sadly, after a brave fight, Esmé passed away on the 17th of November.
“She was and is a beautiful little girl who will always, always be remembered and held deep in our hearts,” said Roger.
During their month-long stay at Jessops, Roger and Bec were supported by staff from the maternity ward, neonatal unit and bereavement services. They were also able to stay in accommodation funded by our supporters.
For Roger, that accommodation gave them something incredibly precious: time.
“Bec was recovering physically after a long labour and losing a lot of blood. When Esmé passed away, we were still able to stay nearby and see her every day. We were able to try and make our peace before going back to Doncaster. You don’t realise how precious that time is.”
It meant Roger and Bec could spend those final moments with Esmé doing things that might seem ordinary but meant everything to them.
“We bathed her, clothed her, spent time with her. We did stuff that everyone else would perceive as normal, a given, but it meant we were still able to have those moments with her.”
The kindness of the Jessops team has stayed with Roger ever since.
“They gave Esme the best possible chance and they were fantastic with us throughout. You simply cannot do their job without caring. They are the true superheroes of this world.”
Since losing Esmé, Roger and Bec have found different ways to keep her memory alive and give something back to the people who cared for them by fundraising for SHC.
“Not only did we stay in the charity-funded flats, but we attended the 2018 memorial service and saw the staff that looked after Esme. They told us that the charity also funded that, and it meant the world to be there, saying her name. It was us telling the world that she existed. We knew we needed to give back to help us as parents and as a couple.”
Since then, they’ve climbed mountains, held bake sales, and even jumped out of a plane in 2021. Running has become another part of Roger’s journey.
“Fundraising is how we have managed our grief, focusing on one challenge and then the next one, and so on. Running has become the next part of my healing process. It takes the stress away and gives me a focus.”
After recovering from the Great North Run, he’s taking on the Sheffield 10K and already has his sights set on the half marathon next year.
“Time is the most important commodity. Sheffield Hospitals Charity allowed us to have that with Esmé and to remember her, so we want to keep giving back to the other families who will also sadly be there and need that too.”
For Roger, every challenge and every mile is a way of remembering his daughter and helping other families have the time and space they need to be together during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
It’s his way of giving something back to our NHS staff and making sure Esmé’s memory continues to make a difference.
We’re wishing Roger lots of luck at the 10k this weekend! To donate to Roger’s race, visit his fundraising page here.
Published: Friday 25th of September 2026