In September 2024 I’ll be taking on the Great North Run in support of Bliss, the UK's leading charity for babies born premature or sick.

My daughter Nieve was born premature at just 29 weeks. Her early birth was completely unexpected. As a newborn, weighing just 2lb 6oz, she struggled to breathe and was given a full body blood transfusion and treatment for suspected sepsis. A couple of days later we found she had suffered from an interventricular bleed with the potential to leave her with brain damage. Unable to hold her, I remember looking at the tiny baby in the ventilator in front of me knowing that she’d put up a fight.

Being a parent of a preemie is an unbearably isolating and mentally overwhelming experience, but charities such as Bliss provided essential support to us as a family, helping to make sense of NICU, and advocating ways for us to get involved in Nieve’s care. Throughout our three months in hospital and beyond, Bliss supported Nieve by championing our roles as parents, providing us with essential information about her medical conditions and reassurance that we were doing the very best we could for her.

And the little fighter? She’s now a feisty, smart, cheeky, fun-loving and very caring eight-year-old – and everything we could have wished for in a daughter. We’re very much aware of just how lucky we are. We’re indebted to both the team at Burnley General Hospital NICU and Bliss for their expertise and support.

Every day more than 300 babies are admitted to a neonatal unit in the UK and most premature births are spontaneous, with no clear cause. Your donation will help Bliss to ensure that every baby born premature or sick in the UK has the best chance of survival and quality of life.

With love and thanks,

Sarah x