April 12, 2025

Walking for Rex: A Community Coming Together to Support Families Affected by Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC)

Each year in the UK, 40 seemingly healthy children go to sleep and never wake up. There is no warning, no clear cause, and often, no answers. This heartbreaking reality is known as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood – or SUDC – and it affects children aged between 1 and 18. Awareness of this medical tragedy remains low and there is currently no UK government funding.

That’s where SUDC UK steps in.

This incredible charity, co-founded by bereaved mother Camilla Gooden in 2017, is working tirelessly to change that. With a mission to raise awareness, fund crucial research and support families affected by SUDC, the charity has grown into a vital lifeline for those facing the unimaginable.

And it all started with a little boy named Rex.

Remembering Rex

In February 2015, Camilla’s 22-month-old son Rex died suddenly and without explanation. One moment he was full of life, and the next, he was gone. There was no illness, no trauma, no sign. The grief was overwhelming. “That day changed me forever,” Camilla reflects. “He was both my heart breaker and heart opener.”

Just two months later, with what would have been Rex’s second birthday approaching, Camilla and her local community came together for the first ever Walk for Rex. More than 100 people turned up to walk 15km through the beautiful Knole Park in Sevenoaks. The event raised money to improve the local playground and support research into SUDC.

Ten years on, the walk is still going strong – a testament to Rex’s legacy and the power of community in times of loss.

Rex’s 10th Anniversary Walk – Join Us

On Friday 9th May 2025, the community will gather once again at Knole Park for the 10th Anniversary Remembering Rex Walk, a 7km community walk from 9:30am to 11:30am. Whether you’ve been personally affected by SUDC or simply want to support an important cause, everyone is welcome.

The walk has evolved over the years. From a longer trek to a more relaxed route that encourages connection and conversation, it has become a space where people can open up, share memories, and feel supported. As Camilla says, “The walk is for everyone who has gone through any kind of bereavement come and talk about your loved ones with others who can relate.”

Walkers are encouraged to wear a bright blue T-shirt – the colour of SUDC UK – or simply something colourful in memory of Rex. Young children and dogs on leads are warmly welcomed. In fact, some of Camilla’s favourite moments are seeing her youngest child, who never met Rex, proudly taking part in the walk, chatting to others and sharing in his memory.

If you are unable to attend but would like to support the walk for Rex you can also purchase a piggyback donation ticket from £10-50.

From Grief to Action

In the early days following Rex’s passing, Camilla found comfort in her community. Mums from her daughter’s primary school brought meals to her home, offered support and one in particular – Vikki Ashton – sparked the idea of a memorial walk. Her kindness and drive helped bring the first event to life, and it has since become a cherished fixture in the community calendar.

But Camilla felt something was missing. Many charities focused on infant loss (babies under 12 months), but Rex had been nearly two years old. It was during her own research that she discovered the work of the SUDC Foundation in the United States. Inspired, Camilla and two other bereaved mothers came together to launch SUDC UK, a registered charity affiliated with the US foundation.

Since 2017, SUDC UK has supported over 200 families and, now, the goal is to expand research efforts here in the UK, to ensure answers and support are available closer to home.

Camilla (left) & Vikki (right)

The ‘Every’ Campaign

This year, SUDC UK is calling for national attention with its Every Campaign, built around three powerful messages:

Every child deserves the chance to live.
Every professional should be trained in SUDC.
Every family must be supported.

The campaign is a call to action – to medical professionals, politicians, media and the public – to prevent more unexplained childhood deaths and ensure those affected are not left to navigate their grief alone. You can learn more about the campaign and how to get involved by reading this PDF: WHAT-WE-DO-AND-WHAT-WE-WANT.

More Than a Walk

To date, the Remembering Rex Walk has raised over £30,000 and brings in an average of £3,500 per year. But its value is more than monetary.

For Camilla, the time she spends working with the charity is time spent with Rex. “It feels good to be doing something positive in his name,” she says. While people are often hesitant to mention Rex for fear of causing pain, Camilla gently reminds us: “I’m thinking about Rex all the time – it upsets me more when no one talks about him.”

This walk offers a chance to do just that – to say his name, share his story and keep his memory alive.

Camilla & her husband (Rex’s father)

Can’t Make the Walk?

If you can’t attend the event, there are still many ways you can help support the work of SUDC UK:

Donate: sudc.org.uk/donate
Host an event or Race for SUDC UK
Partner with SUDC UK as a business or organisation
Share the Every Campaign and help spread awareness far and wide

Find out more about other events and how to get involved: sudc.org.uk/events

Email: info@sudc.org.uk

Follow on social media: Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.

Why Community Matters

While nothing can take away the pain of losing a child, connection and community play a vital role in healing. As Camilla explains, “Engaging with others who understand and share similar experiences can bring comfort, reduce feelings of isolation and help us carry the weight of grief together.”

In honour of Rex, and for all the children who die without explanation, this walk is a reminder that through love, remembrance, and collective action, we can create something meaningful from even the deepest sorrow.

So come and walk with us this May. For Rex. For every child. For every family.