Mighty Walk for Prems challenge headed to Ballarat

THE nation’s Walk for Prems Mighty Trek Challenge hits Ballarat to notch up seven laps while pushing a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit around Lake Wendouree on Saturday 25 October before continuing on to Melbourne.

It celebrates the 20th anniversary of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, Australia’s leading charity dedicated to supporting families of sick and premature babies.

Clocking up 900 kilometres throughout October, and pushing a NICU in 20 selected locations, Life’s Little Treasures Foundation is embarking on the challenge to raise both awareness and funds.

Among those set to participate in Ballarat are local couple Kaitlyn and Andrew Pickersgill who received the foundation’s support when their little son, Steele, entered the world prematurely.

At just over 31 weeks pregnant back in 2022, Mrs Pickersgill went into sudden, premature labour with Steele. After a whirlwind birth in Ballarat, the baby was born weighing just 1675 grams and requiring immediate respiratory support before being transferred to the NICU at Mercy Hospital.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Steele’s parents faced the heartbreak of visiting their tiny, premature son one at a time, making an already scary time even harder.

Steele spent five weeks in hospital between Mercy and Ballarat, slowly building up his strength.

During his stay, his family received a Little Treasures Foundation support pack that helped them feel less alone during their NICU journey.

“It was really tough, especially as first time parents,” Mrs Pickersgill said.

Each year, 48,000 babies in Australia are born premature or sick with one in seven needing critical care in a NICU or Special Care Nursery.

“You just never know if you’re going to be that family,” Mrs Pickersgill said.

“We never anticipated being that family. But Steele has come so far. He’s amazing.”

Today, Steele is a thriving, energetic three-year-old and each year his family walks in Walk for Prems, finding community and connection through shared experience.

“We’ve been participating in the walks since Steele was eight months old so this will be our fourth walk,” Mrs Pickersgill said.

CEO of Life’s Little Treasures Foundation Felicia Welstead said she’s aiming to do the entire 900-kilometre challenge, and hundreds of people are expected to get involved when it reaches Ballarat on Saturday 25 October.

“We had about 250 participate in the Walk for Prems here in Ballarat last year and we’re already expecting 400 to 500 this time for our anniversary Mighty Trek Challenge version of the walk,” Ms Welstead said.

Supported by Baby Bunting, the event aims to raise $1 million toward the work of the foundation with everyone invited to get involved.

It also reaches Bendigo’s Lake Weeroona to clock up some Ks pushing the NICU on Sunday 19 October, and those keen to participate can go to themightytrek.org.au.