This week is National Fertility Awareness Week – As some of you reading this might know its something that is very close to my heart, and something that so many more couples than we realise struggle with.

It’s impossible to understand fully unless you’re experiencing it, but trust me when I say that it’s without a doubt one of the hardest challenges and the toughest roads I think I’ll ever have to walk down, but it’s also given me countless incredible gifts along the way, not least of which was the idea and inspiration to start baking my biscuits! 

This years theme for Fertility Awareness Week is ‘Hidden Faces’ the aim of which is to open up the unseen, day to day struggles that those riding the infertility rollercoaster have to face, and to shine a spotlight on individual fertility stories and share them publicly.

There’s something so heartbreaking about having deal with the ‘pain of never’ as Jessica Hepburn so beautifully put it in you tube video she made as part of this years campaign. You can never avoid it, or escape it, or forget about it, and that’s exhausting, and crushing and something that I believe no one should have to go through feeling isolated and alone.

Of course I appreciate that some people prefer to remain private about their struggles and their own journey, and I completely understand and respect that, but I also know the huge difference its made to me to meet and connect with other people going through it, and the strength of friendships formed through a mutual understanding of something so hard and so huge and life changing.

This year I wanted to do something different to support Fertility Awareness Week – In the past I have raised money by lacing up my running shoes and taking part in a half marathon, but this year I wanted to reach out directly to individuals, to offer a little beacon of love and light and hope to someone who needs to be reminded that they are supported, and thought of, and that someone is still rooting and hoping for them.

So I decided to run a little giveaway. Here’s how it works……..

All you have to do is nominate someone you know who is going through a fertility struggle, and send in their name, together with your favourite inspirational quote that you think might be just what they need to read (we all know how much a beautiful quote can lift your heart)

Next week, when Fertility Awareness Week comes to an end, I will select 5 of the people nominated and send them a biscuit stamped with the quote that accompanied their nomination, to hopefully brighten up their day a little. The winners can send their biscuit anonymously, or I’d love to add a little personalised message to let them know how supported they are – it’s totally up to you!

I’ll also include a note to explain the giveaway and why they have been selected to receive a biscuit.

To nominate someone, please either:

Email me at hello@the-kitsch-hen.co.uk or

Send me a message via my Instagram account: @thekitschhen or

Send me a message via facebook : www.facebook.com/TheKitschHenCakes

I’ll also be collecting up all the quotes to use as inspiration on my Instagram page and also in a special ‘IVF – thriving during the 2 week wait’ feature for my gorgeous friend Rachels upcoming ebook –  www.sproutandco.com.au/ .