Katie Rollings and her husband Tom became parents to twins in 2017 after a long, emotional fertility journey that began in 2010. As co-directors of a thriving family visitor attraction in Sussex, they were constantly surrounded by families, expectant parents, and new babies – something that made their own infertility diagnosis feel even more painful and isolating.
Like many facing infertility, Katie and Tom were unprepared for the emotional toll. Having never experienced mental health challenges before, they found themselves overwhelmed by the silent weight of IVF treatment cycles, disappointment, and uncertainty. They searched for comfort, guidance, and community, but found few spaces where they felt truly understood – so they quietly pushed through on their own.
Eventually, after five rounds of fertility treatment, their long-awaited miracle arrived in the form of healthy (though premature) twins – a boy and a girl. Life shifted overnight into nappies, sleepless nights, and the joy of finally holding their babies. A few years later, just as Katie was focussing on her health and fitness, she noticed changes in her body she couldn’t explain – until she discovered she was pregnant again. In 2020, they welcomed a third child, an unexpected, but long-hoped-for and deeply treasured surprise.
But despite the absolute joy they felt in finally becoming parents, the challenges weren’t over. After a hospital stay with their 18 month old during the COVID-19 pandemic, Katie experienced symptoms of PTSD and began a year-long journey through therapy. It was during those sessions that she began to truly process how deeply the fertility journey had affected her confidence, her sense of self, and her emotional wellbeing. She realised how little emotional support had been available during those years, and how much that had mattered. The idea of forming a charity to fill this gap began to grow.
In 2024, Katie climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with her sister Lea and a group of entrepreneurs, raising £60,000 for the Moldovan children’s charity Hope4. It was on that climb, through reflection, reconnection and being surrounded by some incredible entrepreneurs, that the idea for Fertility Action finally began to take shape. She returned home knowing she wanted to create something that would offer others the support she and her husband had never had.
Now, through Fertility Action, Katie is building a platform that provides emotional support, practical resources, and community for those navigating infertility. From IVF treatment and fertility preservation to the emotional recovery that follows, the charity focuses on making fertility care more accessible, compassionate, and inclusive.
Katie is driven by the deep emotional impact of her own fertility journey, and by a heartfelt commitment to ensure others feel less alone, more supported, and better understood through
Want to know more? Connect with Katie on LinkedIn here.
