'Butterfly Run' to be held in Trim to honour babies lost in pregnancy and early life

Caroline and Martin Smith, who spent seven years campaigning for the State to recognise their son Stephen, are now leading a community event in Trim to remember babies who were stillborn or died shortly after birth. The Butterfly Run will take place at Porchfields on Saturday 11th October, coinciding with International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

Stephen was born in 2015 at 20 weeks and two days, weighing just 420 grams. At the time, Irish law only recognised stillbirths after 24 weeks or 500 grams, so Stephen wasn’t officially acknowledged. After years of campaigning and discussions with government officials, the threshold was lowered to 23 weeks or 400 grams, allowing babies like Stephen to finally be legally recognised.

“At that time, the criteria for stillbirth was 500 grams or 24 weeks, whichever came first so he wasn’t seen as having existed. He was here on the earth for a week,” Caroline recalled.

Caroline described Stephen at birth: “He was 420 grams of perfection. He was the stamp of Martin, long fingers and toes. We were amazed by that.”

The Butterfly Run gives families a way to commemorate babies like Stephen while bringing the community together. Caroline explained: ““The Butterfly Run is a chance for families to come together and honour their babies. This year, it will be held for the first time in Porchfields. It’s a family-friendly day of remembrance, and we hope to get as many people involved as possible.”

Participants can walk or jog laps at their own pace, with medals presented at the end. Families, grandparents, siblings and even pets are welcome to join, and participants are encouraged to wear t-shirts featuring their babies’ names.

Caroline and Martin continue to keep Stephen’s memory alive in everyday life. “Stephen is our eternal butterfly. So, when we see butterflies, we always go, ‘Hello, Stephen.’ And the girls all remember him. We have a little garden at the back and we get gifts for him, toys that are age-appropriate and the girls put little figures and lights in the garden. They go out and rearrange it; it’s lovely,” Caroline said.

Despite the pain, the family found comfort in Féileacáin, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association of Ireland. The Smiths hope the Butterfly Run raises awareness of the ongoing fight for recognition. Their campaign has already changed the law, but they are pushing for further measures, such as a certificate of life for babies who die before the legal threshold. Caroline explained: “This certificate will also allow these babies to be seen on a family tree. Just to have inclusion in the family is all we ever wanted. Basic recognition for all babies who don’t come home from whatever stage of pregnancy.”

The Butterfly Run, combining remembrance with community support, allows families to meet others who have experienced similar losses and take a quiet moment to honour their babies. For the Smiths, it’s about keeping Stephen’s memory alive while offering comfort to others. “It’s very important to remember them, to talk about them, to ensure their lives are acknowledged,” Caroline said

For more info click here