We recently announced our latest project on social media – Up Where Love Lies. This wonderful and meaningful collaboration has been set up to raise awareness for baby and child loss. We also hope to use the balloon as a means to raise money for charity.

Our project partner Ashleigh has very kindly written a blog about the project. She talks about the meaning behind it and the plans for the future. So over to Ashleigh for the blog –

Up Where Love Lies: The Story Behind the Balloon

We were asked to share the story behind Up Where Love Lies: how it began, what it means to us, and the little steps along the way as our dream becomes a reality.

Why We Started Up Where Love Lies

Up Where Love Lies began with a love that has never gone away. This project is in memory of our little boy, Leo, who was born sleeping in June 2021. It is a way of carrying his name with us while hopefully helping other families who understand what it means to miss a child every single day.

Balloons have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was little, my uncle used to take me out to chase them. It quickly became something I loved. As the years went by, Dean and I took our children to balloon festivals, following the balloons until they landed. Those days have always felt special to me.

People sometimes think that, as time passes, grief must become easier, or that somehow you move forward and leave it behind. For me, Leo is still part of our family, and he always will be. I can be busy with the children and feel grateful for the life we have, while still carrying that ache that Leo should be here too.

I carry him with me in so much of what we do, and I want his name to be spoken and remembered. Up Where Love Lies gives us something meaningful to do with all the love we have for him.

A few months ago, I reached out to Jamie with lots of questions about ballooning. He answered every single one and even let me go along to watch some launches and landings up close. The whole experience, from start to finish, was incredible. Afterwards I knew I wanted to be involved in ballooning one way or another.

More recently, Dean and I had the opportunity to go up in a hot air balloon together with Jamie. I can’t quite explain it, but for that short time, I felt close to Leo.

It didn’t take away the grief or make everything okay. It simply gave us a moment to look up, think of him and feel that love in a different way.

On the way home, we started talking about whether we could create something that might give another bereaved family a moment like that too. Before long, I was back on the phone to Jamie, sharing our ideas.

And so, Up Where Love Lies began to take shape.

We’ve designed a balloon in Leo’s memory, and it is now being made. Seeing it all come together is incredibly exciting, but it’s emotional too. Leo should be here with us, and I wish more than anything that our family’s story had been different.

This project can’t change what happened, but it gives us a way to keep his memory close and do something meaningful in his name.

The balloon still has a few weeks left in production, but that hasn’t stopped us from getting busy behind the scenes. We’re already making plans for events, including the balloon’s launch and maiden flights.

Our children, Jesse, Ellie and Tommy, will be very much involved along the way, which makes the whole project even more special for us.

I can’t wait to see something I’ve always dreamed of become a reality. It’s a real pinch-me moment, and sometimes I have to remind myself that this is actually happening!

What We Hope This Project Can Become

We’re working with Molly Mae Ballooning, who will operate the balloon. We’re based in Northampton, so we hope it will fly locally as much as possible, while also travelling to events around the UK as the project grows.

We’d also love to raise money for Sands, the stillbirth and baby loss charity, through fundraising and ballooning keepsakes, such as collectable pin badges.

Looking further into the future, one of our hopes is to learn to fly hot air balloons ourselves. Once we’re qualified and it’s practical to do so, we’d love to offer flights to bereaved parents and families around important dates, such as anniversaries.

We know that a balloon flight won’t take away anyone’s pain. But perhaps being up in the sky, with a little time and space to remember the child they love, could bring some comfort.

This project means so much to us, and we’re only at the beginning of the journey. We’ll continue to share updates as the balloon is made and as we have more news to tell you.

Thank you for being here, for following our journey and for helping us keep Leo’s memory flying high.

Always loved, never forgotten.

Follow our journey: @upwherelovelies

Below are some photos of the balloon in build at Cameron Balloons taken on 13/10/2026.