Upon facing an unimaginable loss, one mother channeled her grief into a life-changing cause – helping premature babies thrive.

Running for Premature Babies is an Australian-based charity founded by Sophie Smith that fundraises and supplies neonatal equipment to hospitals across the country, including The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH). Sophie begun the charity in 2007 after she tragically lost all three of her prematurely born triplets.

Over the years, Sophie and her team have helped raise funds to ensure that premature babies have access to the equipment and care they need to live longer, healthier lives.

Gary Trenaman, Chief Executive Officer of Running for Premature Babies, explained what drove Sophie to start her charity, and why she decided to fundraise for hospitals all over Australia.

“Sophie was so struck by the fact that there might not be enough equipment for her premature babies that in her incredible grief, she decided with her husband to run in the 2007 Sydney Morning Herald Half Marathon to raise money,” he said.

At the time, Sophie and her team of runners hoped to raise enough to buy one humidicrib to honour her lost triplets. However, she went on to have an indescribable impact.

“Sophie is a force of nature. Nobody can say no to her, and she got so many people to run in that event that they raised enough money for four humidicribs,” Gary said.

Today, Running for Premature Babies encourages people all over the country to run and raise money to help support premature babies at hospitals like the RCH.

Gary and the entire team at Running for Premature Babies are incredibly proud to have been able to make such a huge impact on families and their babies, understanding the key role philanthropy plays in supporting young lives.

“Most people don’t realise that a lot of the equipment in neonatal intensive care wards is in fact donated equipment. Philanthropy ensures that hospitals can have the most advanced neonatal equipment,” Gary explained.

The organisation recently donated $50,000 to help fund life-saving equipment for the RCH’s Paediatric Infant Emergency Retrieval team – also known as PIPER.

PIPER is a statewide service team that transfers sick babies, sick children and high-risk pregnant people from hospitals across Victoria. The team performs on average 3,840 emergency retrievals each year.

Thanks to Running for Premature Babies generosity, this program has been able to invest in a NeoCot, a world-leading solution for intensive care transport for premature or critically ill babies.

“The PIPER team do such excellent work. You have a great team of specialists who come to you when it’s needed most. It’s a fantastic service and it’s our honour to support them,” Gary said.

Running for Premature Babies has estimated that their fundraising has helped save the lives of over 10,000 babies, including those at the RCH, something Gary is very proud of.

“Our mission is to give premature babies a better chance of survival and we have made this impact by supplying every hospital with advanced neonatal equipment,” Gary emphasised.

If you want to help Running for Premature Babies achieve their mission and give premature babies the chance to grow and thrive, take part in their next event in November, the Premmie Marathon Challenge. This event is achievable by anyone in any part of the world. All you have to do is choose your distance and walk, run or ride through November. Learn more by visiting their website here.