Bundaberg BMX club fundraiser for family who suffered stillbirth

A Bundaberg couple has bravely spoken about their heartbreaking experience with the stillbirth of their son, River, as the community comes together to organise a fundraiser at the BMX club.

Rachel Forster-Jones, Corey Frieswyk and daughter Ruby and son River.

A young Bundaberg family has shared their stillbirth story in the hopes of raising awareness, ahead of a community fundraising event.

Rachel Forster-Jones and Corey Frieswyk recently suffered the loss of son River on September 11, 2022, who was stillborn.

The couple also have a three-year-old daughter, Ruby.

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Ms Forster-Jones said it was “hard but important” to share the message of stillbirth awareness and to remind others that it was something that needed to be talked about, rather than hidden away and kept “hush hush”.

“It’s like a dirty little secret and it shouldn’t be,” she said.

“People should have some idea of what to say and how to support families.”

Rachel Forster-Jones, Corey Frieswyk and daughter Ruby and son River.

Rachel Forster-Jones, Corey Frieswyk and daughter Ruby and son River.

Mr Frieswyk is a former BMX champion and a member of the Bundaberg BMX Club who will hold a fundraising event for the family on Saturday, December 3 from 2pm.

The event will include a BMX race with Auscycling members welcome to join in, as well as raffles and freshly made food from the canteen.

Club treasurer and president Nikki and Jarrod Statham jumped at the opportunity to support the young family in their time of need.

The couple said they had been going through therapy due to the trauma of their loss, and also wanted to support little Ruby as best as they could.

They’ve had to field heartbreaking questions from their little girl, such as “will our next brother or sister go to heaven as well?”

“One thing I want to get for her is some kind of play therapy or art therapy,” Ms Forster-Jones said.

Ms Forster-Jones said she also wanted to use some funds to support the Red Nose foundation which assists families who have lost young bubs.

“The biggest thing is that we’re grateful,” she said.

“We want to say thank you to the community for coming out.”

Ms Statham said they put the fundraiser together because they wanted to let the family know the community was behind them.

Rachel Forster-Jones, Corey Frieswyk and daughter Ruby and son River.

“We’re just trying to do what we possibly can to get them through this tough time,” she said.

“All money raised is going to Corey and Rachel.

“We try to do as much as we possibly can for our members and community.”

The event had originally been planned for October, but was cancelled when rain washed the tracks out.

“We’re just grateful for the blue skies and the ability to hold this event,” Ms Statham said.

Ms Statham said Mr Frieswyk had shown his own kindness to the club by donating BMX bikes to the group and also donating jerserys towards the fundraiser.

The event kicks off at 2pm at the BMX club at 2 Airport Drive, Bundaberg.

A sausage sizzle will be on offer as well as steak sandwiches and drinks.

Raffle prizes will include a $500 Unit voucher and gym memberships.

All are welcome to turn out for a great day of BMX racing in support of a good cause.

The BMX club will put on an afternoon of racing. Photo: File