'Let's end Wales' 300 baby deaths'.

GWYNEDD parents have set off on a journey to Cardiff to raise awareness about 300 stillborn deaths in Wales each year and to collect funds for the Sands stillbirth and neonatal deaths charity.

On the way on Saturday, Gwynedd Sands' member Llinos Jones and a Sands team called at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, on Saturday to release balloons in memory of their stillborn children, including Llinos' daughter Mari.

In the capital, Sands will present its new Saving Babies' Lives Report 2009 to Assembly Members and Welsh MPs at the Welsh Assembly Senedd - calling on politicians to work to reduce stillbirths and neonatal deaths - at a reception which will be hosted by Kirsty Williams AM on June 17.

They are also raising funds for Sands' Why17? campaign.

It is named after the fact that 17 babies die daily in the UK.

And they want people to sign an online petition which can also be found at www.uk-sands.org The fundraisers will be travelling on foot, cycling, hitching with passers by and even using a horse and cart and vintage tractor.

"They will be accompanied by the journey's mascot, a very beautiful Welsh Dragon called Ogwen.

Llinos said: "The devastation my family and I felt when our daughter Mari was stillborn was indescribable.

"No parent whose baby has died wants any other parent to suffer in this way, which is why I am taking part in the Sands Why17? journey.

"We need a co-ordinated, national strategy to tackle stillbirths and neonatal deaths and we need it now."