The summer of 2011 was on course to be a wonderful time in Mark and Helen Robertson’s lives. They were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their first child, a daughter named Niamh. Their love for Niamh grew more and more each day and they knew she would make their young family complete. A long time educator, Helen adored children, especially those with special needs. Inspired by the real-life experiences of growing up with a younger brother with Autism, Helen went on to become a Special Education Needs Coordinator and worked tirelessly to provide them the individualized support they needed.
In August 2011, while delivering her daughter, Helen lost her life to complications from an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE). Mark was devastated and was suddenly left to raise his precious daughter who survived the event, all alone. Mark recalls, “All Helen wanted to make everything complete for us was a baby, the one thing which she has been denied. I take comfort in knowing that we never left anything unsaid. I told her every day that I loved her and there was never a time that I said it without meaning it from the bottom of my heart. I still can’t quite comprehend life without her here.”
- Good friend, Kristian Headland and Mark Robertson
This summer Mark will cycle 500 miles in honor of his late wife. Mark’s good friend, Kristian Headland, will join him on this incredible feat. Together the two will travel from Ashington’s Woodhorn Musuem to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Helen’s favorite city. Mark and Kristian hope to raise much needed awareness of AFE while also paying tribute to the beautifully kind woman Helen was. “She was special to so many, I want this event to be about honoring her and showing the impact she has left on so many”, says Mark. The response from the school where Helen taught was so telling of the impact she made during her tenure there. They recently named their learning support center in her honor, following her desire to create a dedicated support area for the students.
Helen’s legacy continues to make an impact on not only everyone who knew her but on strangers alike. Countless supporters have raised money in her honor to benefit the Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, a cause close to Helen’s Heart, and the AFE Foundation. Both organizations will be the recipients of the fundraising efforts from the momentous ride this summer.
To stay updated on Mark and Kristian’s training and fundraising progress, please visit The Helen Robertson Memorial Facebook Page.
To support The Helen Robertson Memorial Ride, please click the ‘donate’ button below and
write ‘Helen Robertson’ in the additional information section.