On the 14th November 2026, my husband Ethan and I will be walking 54 miles from NSECH to James Cook University Hospital, three days before World Prematurity Day.

We chose this route because it follows the journey that changed our family’s life. NSECH is where we first went for help when I was 29 weeks pregnant. I was then transferred by ambulance over an hour away to James Cook, and a few hours later I suffered a complete placental abruption.

Our daughter Mollie was born at James Cook on 19 May 2025 by an emergency category-one C-section under general anaesthetic. She was exactly 29 weeks and weighed just 2lb 7oz.

Mollie spent her first three weeks in the neonatal unit at James Cook before being transferred back to NSECH, where she spent another five weeks. After eight weeks in hospital, we were finally able to bring her home, although she still needed oxygen overnight.

While Mollie was at James Cook, I stayed in one of the neonatal family flats so I could be close to her. I know how important it is for parents to be near their baby, but also how much the small, practical comforts matter when you have suddenly found yourself living away from home with nothing prepared.

That experience is a huge part of why I wanted to do this. I want to help make an incredibly difficult and frightening time a little more comfortable for the families who find themselves in the same position.

With the support of Our Hospitals Charity, we’ve created The Miss Molls Campaign. The name comes from the nickname Mollie was given by the incredible NICU nurses who cared for her, while the logo was inspired by the little crocheted octopus that stayed beside her in the incubator.

I’m so pleased to be fundraising alongside Our Hospitals Charity, with all donations being collected through their official JustGiving page to support premature babies, the neonatal department and the families using it.

If you’re able to donate or share our page, we’d be incredibly grateful. Thank you for supporting The Miss Molls Campaign 💜

———-

The majority of the 5,600 babies who are born in our trust every year are well and can go home relatively quickly with no problems. Some however, are born early or sick and we need the services of our neonatal department.

The Neonatal Unit at James Cook Hospital includes intensive care and high dependency facilities and is where we care for sick and premature infants. We have ten intensive care/high dependency cots and a number of special care cots and carry out various forms of respiratory support and other intensive therapies including infant cooling.

We have around 400 admissions each year, so it is a busy unit.

Donations to the Neonatal Unit support the many babies and their families who come to our hospital for treatment and care, making their experience the best it possibly can be.

Donations also help us pay for the little things that make a big difference to our babies and their families.