Sunday stroll supports Life’s Little Treasures

Thriving family: Travis Smith and Samantha Prowse with their twin daughters, Madelyn and Charlotte, who were born premature. Photo: FILE

THE fourth Ballarat Walk for Prems will see residents travel five kilometres on foot later this month in support of babies born prematurely.

The fundraiser for Life’s Little Treasures Foundation, which cares for ‘premmie’ babies and their families, will be virtual this year, with walkers heading out on Sunday, 25 October and logging their activity online.

The theme is ‘one walk, one thousand locations,’ with organisers hoping all national participants’ collective distances will cover the perimeter of Australia.

Ballarat’s walk coordinator, Samantha Prowse gave birth to her premature twin girls almost five years ago, but didn’t know the foundation existed at the time.

“When I found out about it, I knew I had to get the walk and the awareness to Ballarat, to help families in need of support,” she said.

“It’s most important to let families with premmie babies know that they are not alone. There is extra help 24-seven from Life’s Little Treasures, and support from someone that’s been through it.”

The annual event is usually held at Lake Wendouree, but due to COVID-19 restrictions this year participants will walk five kilometres around their area, with registration fees, or a further donation boosting the foundation’s services for the next 12 months.

“Life’s Little Treasures is not government funded, so the walk is their prime fundraising effort,” Ms Prowse said.

“Extra donations make a difference. $10 will pay for a Guiding Hand Folder, with tips and information parents can give their extended family to educate them so they can comfortably offer support.

“Our twins were the first premature babies in our family, and people were too scared to come and visit us.”

More significant donations can contribute to the provision of food for families with children in the neonatal intensive care unit and special care nursery. The foundation also supplies essentials like fuel vouchers.

Registration is $25 for an adult, with cheaper fees for children. Visit walkforprems.org.au/locations/Ballarat.

Walk for Prems first began 11 years ago in Melbourne.