Nine workers at West Country Financial Planning firm Paradigm Norton have raised more than £8,000 for a baby loss charity by walking 26 miles along the Devon coastline.

The team walked from their office in Torquay to their Exeter office last month.

The physical challenge covered more than 10 hours of walking and 2,700 feet of elevation.

It raised vital funds for the charity Petals which supports bereaved parents. The £8,600 raised so far will fund more than 100 specialist counselling sessions for families affected by pregnancy or baby loss.

Dan Atkinson, Chartered Financial Planner at Paradigm Norton and a former Petals client, was the inspiration behind the walk.

He said: “Losing a baby, at any stage, is a traumatic experience and sadly one that our family has experienced. We were incredibly fortunate to receive specialist counselling from Petals to help process our grief. We want all those who need this support to be able to receive it.

“At the end of 2024, I shared the idea of walking from Torquay to Exeter with colleagues at Paradigm Norton and remarkably, they said yes.”

“Our team has raised well over £8,000, which will enable Petals to say yes to a further 16 families. Being able to have that kind of impact is even more beautiful than the scenery we crossed.”

The team of walkers from Paradigm Norton

Phillipa Hann, chief executive of Paradigm Norton, was part of the team on the day. She said: “Walking 26 miles together for Petals was both a physical challenge and an emotional journey. I was incredibly proud to take part alongside my colleagues, united by a cause that touches so many lives.”

Karen Burgess, chief executive of Petals, said: “We’re so grateful to the Paradigm Norton team for taking on such a huge challenge in support of Petals. Their generosity and determination will help us provide more than 100 counselling sessions for bereaved parents who urgently need specialist support.

"It’s an incredible reminder of the impact people can have when they come together. They’ve truly made a difference.”

Petals provides free, expert counselling for women, men and couples who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), or pregnancy after loss. With demand for its services growing rapidly, fundraising initiatives are crucial to help the charity reach more of the families who turn to them in crisis.

Learn more at www.petalscharity.org or follow the charity on social media @petalscharity.