Premature babies are being remembered during a special ‘Pebbles for Preemies’ charity walk to raise funds for a local organisation which supports the parents of babies born too early.
Members of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust’s maternity, paediatrics and special care baby unit teams will be walking 60,000 steps together to raise awareness of premature births when they tackle Roseberry Topping on Sunday 13 November for the ‘Pebbles for Preemies’ fundraiser.
All funds raised will go to Leo’s Neonatal, an award-winning regional charity which provides specialised health support for families who have preterm or sick babies.
Leo’s Neonatal is led by Lottie King who tragically lost one of her premature twins in 2015. Lottie said: “We’ve launched the challenge to walk 60,000 steps to represent the 60,000 babies born early each year in the UK who need neonatal care.
“The Trust teams will be walking up and down Roseberry Topping and placing pebbles with babies’ names and weights en-route to the top.
“The painted stones have been kindly provided by the children of Oxbridge Primary School in Stockton-on-Tees and we’re very grateful for their support.”
Nicola Threadgold, lead midwife sonographer for the Trust, said: “We work very closely with Leo’s Neonatal and Lottie is a real friend of the service.
“We’re all looking forward to Sunday even if some of us end up with aching legs!”
You can donate to Leo’s Neonatal ‘Pebbles for Preemies’ online via Just Giving.
