Support Life’s Little Treasures

ONE year after giving birth to twin girls, at thirty-two weeks, Samantha Prowse heard about Life’s Little Treasures Foundation.

Ms Prowse said even though she and her partner Travis Smith had a dream pregnancy they had encountered other families in the hospital who were not so lucky with premature births.

“I rang the Foundation as soon as I discovered it was holding its annual fundraiser, Walk for Prems and asked could I help organise one for Ballarat,” she said. “This year will be my third walk I’ve coordinated.”

Walk for Prems is the largest annual fundraiser of Australia’s foremost charity dedicated to supporting the families of babies born sick or prior to 37 weeks gestation.

Its aim is to ensure that no family endures the traumatic and life changing experience of having a premature or sick baby without easy access to critical information and community support.

Ms Prowse said Charlotte and Madelyn jointly weighed 3.3 kilograms when they were born.

“We didn’t even know the Foundation existed when we had the girls at St John’s,” she said.

“We had the best team available to us, but having that little bit of extra help and support and knowledge from other prem families and the Foundation itself would have not gone astray.

“The girls were in special care in the hospital for six weeks.”

Walk for Prems will be around Lake Wendouree starting at the bandstand, near Pipers by the Lake, on Sunday, 27 October with registration at 9.30am.

Participating supporters and families will also have access to free entertainment and children’s activities including music, a jumping castle and face-painting.

“At 10 we start the walk with a remembrance bubble ceremony to remember those who have unfortunately lost their babies and the walk officially begins at 10.30,” Ms Prowse said.

Everyone who signs up for the walk will receive a participation medal once it’s done. Registration is $18 adults, $10 children and $7 babies.

For those unable to walk the Lake there is virtual walk team registration available at $30 adults and $25 for children which includes a Walk for Prems 2019 tee shirt.

Visit walkforprems.org.au to sign up and lifeslittletreasures.org.au for more information.