On May 14th this year, I will be running my first ever half-marathon in Leeds and have decided to run on behalf of the Special Care Baby Unit at Cumberland Infirmary.

Every year in the UK, around 1 in 10 babies are born prematurely and, in July 2008, when my niece Sienna was born 10 weeks early, she weighed just 2 lb 11½ oz.

Sienna's home for the first 51 days of her life was the Special Care Baby Unit at Cumberland Infirmary, where she spent the first 2 days on breathing support.

Living in a heated incubator to keep her tiny body warm, Sienna was linked to monitors that alarmed when she stopped breathing and fed through a tube into the stomach.

Thanks to the amazing care/support she received from the wonderful doctors and nurses throughout this process, Sienna grew stronger and was allowed to go home after 8 weeks, weighing 4lb 8ozs.

Now aged 8, Sienna is a gorgeous, happy, funny little girl who loves swimming and dancing, and is much loved member of our family.

Words will never express how grateful we will always be to Cumberland Infirmary and the Special Care Baby Unit for helping her overcome this difficult start in life.

Not all premature babies are as fortunate as Sienna and Special Care Baby Units like this one need all the support that they can get to provide the standard of care they need to improve the odds.

This is why I hope to raise as much money as possible, in order to help other babies and their families in the same position, as well as saying a massive thank you.

Anything that you can give will be greatly received and very much appreciated.

David