September 25, 2014 (Vancouver, BC) – At the final race of the 2014 season, Team SmartStop’s captain, Zach Bell dedicated his win at the UCI 1.2 Bucks County Classic to his late son, Paxton and his newborn daughter, Lucy.

The Bucks County Classic was held on the 13th, the same date as the birth of his son and Bell says, “To go out like that was a great personal achievement.  I had fought hard for the team and for a result all year and not pulled down a top step result. To top it all of it was on the 13th and my first born, Paxton, was born on the 13th of October.”

Coinciding with the win was the launch of Paxton’s Lights For Hope for the second year running. Alongside his wife Rebecca, and after a successful campaign in 2013, the pair is pleased to announce the return Paxton’s Lights For Hope campaign to benefit the BC Women’s Hospital NICU again in 2014.

In 2012 Rebecca Bell had the perfect pregnancy, but complications during the birth meant that Paxton was deprived of vital oxygen and blood needed, as a result he suffered an acute, severe brain event.

The campaign is in memory of the son they lost in 2012 and now also to acknowledge the birth for Lucy this year. It will benefit the BC Women’s Hospital NICU, where Paxton was cared for around the clock for the three days before his life support was switched off.

Bell said the BC Women’s Hospital was there for him and his family during their time of need and it is important to give back: “BC Women’s Hospital, the support staff and doctors there, provided great care and support for my family in the time.  Although we lost our son I have never seen a group of people work so hard and with such tenderness for what was a life in hopeless circumstances.”

The campaign was conceived as a both vehicle to raise awareness about early infant loss and as a way of honoring young family members lost.  Simple, beautiful unscented candles will be shipped to you for use during your thanksgiving dinner. Proceeds will go to the purchase of equipment at the BC Women’s NICU allowing more space for families in need of early life care.

The candles and complete story is available here.