Leo's was founded in 2018, in memory of little Leo, who lost his fight at just four hours old. The journey his mum Lottie, big brother Dax and twin brother Oska, went on for the next few years, was not an easy one. It is also a journey we see many of the families in our care face daily.

The team at Leo's, all has lived experience of having a neonatal stay or having a pregnancy or baby loss, and uses this to help others.

The charity provides vital mental health, well-being and early intervention support, making sure families don't feel alone.

The team offers lived experience peer support, counselling and talking therapies, EMDR & Flash to treat PTSD, Birth Trauma support, community groups, days out, self care packs for families affected by loss and so much more.

Not everyone understands what it's like to lose a baby, or to need neonatal care, but we do. Every penny raised from the Tees 10K will help fund our services into 2025.

Anyone who knows me knows I hate running so much I used to hide when we had to do any running at college and miss the class. I'd also pretend that I was having an asthma attack so the the teacher would go easy on me (not proud) but I'm determined to do the 10k (I've never run this far before) for this incredible charity that helps so many families. My best friend Katie works for Leo's and does an incredible job and the difference she is making, I want her to be able to continue. Come December Leo's will lose a significant portion of their funding so anything - literally anything you can give (50p even!) will help. Pretty please! I have seen first hand the effect having a baby on the neonatal ward has on a family and the constant fear that they are living in for weeks on end - this is for the lucky families who's babies manage to pull through but devastatingly some do not. Leo's provides support for all families whether their babies are receiving neonatal care, they are grieving or even long after their babies come off the ward, even launching special days out/events for neonatal families. The charity continues their good work long after the neonatal stay ends.

I really hope you can donate.

Thank you so much!

Gabriella