Running for Premature Babies

On 31st August 2025 I (Julie) am running the Sydney Marathon (yes that’s 42.2km - eek) and I’m doing this for Running for Premature Babies.

Taking on a marathon is no mean feat and I couldn't be prouder to be running for a cause really important to my family. I know this will resonate with many of you hence wanting to share.

1 in 10 babies are born premature - that's around 26,000 babies each year in Australia. A lot of babies born premature require support and care of varying degrees and not all hospitals have the equipment to help and support. Babies end up being flown to other hospitals which has plenty of risks attached to it.

Our little boy Woody was born premature in 2019 at 34 weeks. He was born via emergency c-section as he’d stopped growing and my placenta had effectively stopped providing nutrients to him. He was born weighing 2kg. He also was born with Down Syndrome, which we knew about, and an ASD (hole in his heart). It was relatively stressful and he stayed in hospital for the first two weeks and we couldn’t be more thankful for the medical team and the equipment to support him when he needed it most.

Woody | Special Care Unit


Running for Premature Babies was founded by an amazing woman called Sophie. I met her a few weeks ago, and again this week, and she is an inspiration. She founded this charity out of tragedy. I won’t explain her story but you can read it here - warning, it could be triggering.

Running for Premature Babies is proud to support the equipment and research needs of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and Special Care Nurseries (SCNs) Australia-wide to help give premature babies a better chance of survival and quality of life. Since 2007, Running for Premature Babies has raised over $9 million, providing over 180 pieces of life saving neonatal equipment for hospitals around Australia, helping save the lives of approximately 10,000 babies, and funding $800,000 of research to advance the care of premature babies for the future.

To all of you mums and dads who have had preemie babies I’m doing this for you so wish me luck and do check out Running for Premature Babies.

Snuggle Hunny is donating to Running for Premature Babies so you have already helped contribute. I will get asked so if you want to support even more my fundraising page is here.