Man's Rhodes walking challenge in daughter's memory

A father has travelled to Greece for an "extreme" walking challenge raising funds for stillbirths research in memory of his daughter.

Ben Moorhouse, from Halifax, will complete 260 lengths of the 210m (670ft) Ancient Stadium of Rhodes for Kallipateira, who was stillborn at 37 weeks on 26 April 2018.

Every length - representing the endurance of living with loss - would be "walked out of pure love", the 43-year-old said.

"I hope it creates another small piece of history on the island while ensuring Kallipateira's legacy continues to save babies' lives."

About one in every 250 births in England results in a stillbirth, according to the NHS.

After their daughter's death, Ben and his wife Gaynor set up a charitable foundation to support stillbirths research.

"As I held Kallipateira, I promised her that I would make sure she did not die for nothing," he said.

Ben has tackled a number of fundraising challenges since, including raising more than £10,000 for Tommy's Rainbow Clinic in Manchester where their son Apollon was born.

The feat involved walking 120 miles (193km) from Gateshead to Manchester, before travelling to Rhodes to make 50 ascents of a mountain.

In 2023, he walked 206 miles (331km) from Edinburgh to Manchester in 59 hours.

Prof Alexander Heazell, clinical director of the Tommy's Stillbirth Research Centre at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester, said Ben "carries the thoughts and gratitude" of the team with him to Rhodes.

"The funds raised will make a huge difference to our team's medical research," he said.

"Ben's extraordinary resolve is actively helping us pioneer the science that saves babies' lives and prevents other families from the devastation of stillbirth."

Ben added he was "incredibly proud" to take on his latest challenge and would dedicate his 53rd length to his friend Lawrence Mann, who died earlier this year.

"Every step will test me physically and mentally," he said.

"This challenge is for Kallipateira, for Apollon, for Lawrence, and for every family whose baby should have come home.

"I look forward to returning to my second home, the island of Rhodes, where I will honour my beautiful daughter."

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