Alex Noble

I live in Cambridgeshire with my husband James and our daughter Hannah. This was like coming home as I trained and worked as a nurse at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge before going to University in Bradford and then shifting to a career in HR - initially in Edinburgh. I now work for a manufacturing organisation based in Milton Keynes.

My first awareness of Sands came when my husband James and I were given a small booklet containing details of the charity, some practical advice as well as supportive words. This happened in March 2007 when we lost our only son Samuel when I was a little over forty weeks pregnant. Although over 40, after a trouble free first and second pregnancy to that point, I had no reason to suspect there might be a problem. We have a teenage daughter who was deeply affected by this loss also - as a 10 year old she used to kiss her brother on my belly! The Sands teardrop sticker on my hospital notes reminds me that I have a protective shield in the charity - a beacon to protect me from unintended hurt as well as ensuring that the memory of Samuel remains cherished and precious. The charity also helped my husband who like many men facing similar situations found that people enquired about how I was but rarely asked how he was coping.

The Sands website continues to be a source of support and reminds me that we are not alone. James and I went along to a couple of local Sands group meetings as well and over time I wondered how we could help this organisation which we have so much to be grateful for. Following an application and interview process I am honoured to be appointed a trustee and a little daunted about being part of a team which has achieved so much over recent years, largely due to the unrelenting passion and commitment of local groups, fundraisers, staff and other stakeholders too numerous to mention here.

The charity is uniquely positioned to provide support to those touched by stillbirth and neonatal death as well as promote research to reduce such. There are many opportunities for the charity to contribute - and ensure it is accessible to all, those from all cultural and social backgrounds in its primary support role. The charity faces many challenges as to how best to focus its resources and I look forward to supporting the team to this end.