As i'm running 2026 London Marathon, i thought i'd take this opportunity to fundraise for a charity that means something to my family.

My partner, Anya, tested as a carrier of Group B Strep after a routine swab during the pregnancy of our first baby. Never having heard of GBS, we were unaware that group b strep is the UK's most common cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies.

At 41+3 Anya went into labour, Upon arriving at hospital, Mum and baby were unknowingly in distress, resulting in a stage 1 emergency c section to save their lives.

Anya had chorioamnionitis due to group b strep bacteria; Leaving her unwell with sepsis.

Straight after birth my daughter Kyra, tested positive to group b strep septicaemia, the next week consisted of unbelievable worry, antibiotics, many tests, including a lumbar puncture at only 2 days old.

Thankfully both Mum and Kyra returned home after a 7 day hospital stay.

We're forever grateful that Kyra recovered fully, without any further complications.

It's worrying to think so many pregnant women are still unaware of group b strep, just like we were. The information and testing kits available from this charity could help to save a babies life.

https://gbss.org.uk/info-support/about-group-b-strep/what-is-group-b-strep/

Group B strep is a type of bacteria which lives in the intestines, rectum, or vagina of 2 to 4 in every ten women in the UK (20 to 40%). This is often referred to as ‘carrying’ or being ‘colonised with’ group B Strep.

Most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. Carrying GBS is not harmful to you, but there is a small chance it can affect your baby around the time of birth.

GBS can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, in babies before they are born. Carrying GBS can also sometimes lead to serious infections for pregnant women, though this is also rare.

Group B Strep is the leading cause of severe infection in newborn babies including sepsis, meningitis and pneumonia.

On average in the UK, at least two babies a day develop a group B Strep infection. One baby a week dies from their GBS infection, and another survives with long-term disabilities, physical, mental or both.

Group B Strep Support is on a mission to STOP life-threatening group B Strep infection in babies.

We provide support for families, improves awareness, educates health professionals and campaigns for better prevention.

Most group B Strep infections in babies are preventable.

We want all expectant mothers in the UK to be informed about group B Strep as a routine part of antenatal care.

We want all women in the UK to be offered a GBS test as part of a national screening programme.

In the future, we want a safe and effective vaccine that could be the best route to eliminating group B Strep infections in babies.