Chris Cooper and Kayleigh Maher, who have been together since 2018, were expecting Oakley Cooper on the 12 of July.

Chris Cooper pictured here with his fiancé Kayleigh Maher (Image: Supplied by Chris Cooper)

But only a few days before then, Miss Maher felt something was wrong after not feeling her baby kick.

The couple were admitted into the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on July 8 where doctors conducted a C-section on Miss Maher, after discovering their baby had died.

Mr Cooper said: “We spent time in the Meadow Suite, which allows families to spend time with their babies to say proper goodbyes, and we were really well looked after.”

Oakley’s name is inscribed on Mr Cooper’s bike (Image: Chris Cooper)

Baby Oakley’s memorial plaque in Colney Memorial Park (Image: Chris Cooper)

Although the couple still do not know what caused baby Oakley’s death, Mr Cooper is taking on a massive cycling challenge to help him move through his grief.

On July 5, three days before the anniversary of the loss of his son, he will be tackling a 100-mile cycling challenge, which will be followed by another one in August and another in September.

He said: “Each challenge is represents a different part of our grief. July will be for remembering him, for marking a year of loving and missing him, and for carrying him with me every mile.”

Mr Cooper took up cycling in 2023 (Image: John Rainbow)

Mr Cooper will be completing three 100-mile challenges to raise money for the Meadow Suite at the NNUH (Image: Supplied by Chris Cooper)

Mr Cooper added his fiancé has been a pillar of strength for him over the last 10 months.

He said: “Kayleigh has been fantastic through all of this, I feel as a couple we have been incredibly strong and I’m sure that has much more to do with her than me.”

The money Mr Cooper raises will be donated towards the bereavement ward at the NNUH and used towards helping other families feel more comfortable during their time there.

Mr Cooper began cycling in 2023 and has found a strong community among the Brewery Tap Cycle Club, which he joined last year, who have been “a fantastic support” to him.

He said: “The more money we raise means the more we can spend on the Meadow Suite and the more families we can help.”

If you would like to donate to Mr Cooper’s cause, you can do so here: https://shorturl.at/YB0sJ