My first daughter was born prematurely at 22 weeks.
At that early stage in pregnancy, doctors can’t intervene, so we were unfortunately faced with the knowledge that our daughter wouldn’t survive.
I was admitted to the Royal Hospital for Women and my baby girl was born on November 9, 2009, and she was with us for eight precious minutes. My husband Mick and I held her, and she passed in my arms.
We named her Chiara. Her name means ‘light’.
My sister introduced me to the Running for Premature Babies charity the following May, when she told me she’d donated money to the team in memory of Chiara. I thought it was such a beautiful tribute and I knew I wanted to get involved.
Running for Premature Babies is a special running group set up in 2007 by Sophie Smith, after she and husband Ash lost their first-born triplet sons, Henry, Jasper and Evan, following an extremely premature birth at 24 weeks. This year will mark their tenth birthdays.
Since 2007 this special team have raised in excess of $1.5 million which has funded ventilators, equipment and research grants into the area of prematurity – all through ordinary everyday people who have been touched by a child who was born prematurely.
The signature event for Running for Premature Babies is the Sydney Half Marathon every year, so the next year, 2011, I started with the team.
But let me tell you, I am not a runner! The last time I had actually ran any competitive distance was at school, but I really wanted to raise money for the hospital on Chiara’s behalf.
One of my good friends Don decided he’d run the course with me. Through just reaching out to friends, family and colleagues, we raised $5,000. It was quite special.
When I finished the whole 21.1km of the half marathon that first year, I was extremely emotional. Everybody knew I was running for Chiara and they provided such incredible support.
When Chiara passed, my husband and I knew we wanted to do something that would help others. This was a wonderful avenue for us to channel that through.
With Running for Premature Babies, there are celebratory stories, there are people that have survived being born prematurely or who’ve benefited from the equipment. There are also stories like Chiara’s where you’re honouring those that have passed.
So that’s where joining this team worked for us. It allowed us to fundraise and channel all our hopes and dreams and disappointments into something positive.
Karen, daughter Ashley and husband Mick
Each race is an emotional one. My goals each and every year are first and foremost to raise as much money as I can, the second is to finish the course, and the third is to do it in the best time I can.
Crossing the finishing line every time, I’m in tears. I’m greeted by great supporters in friends and family – including my husband and four-year-old daughter Ashley – who have been with me through every race. I’m overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity, the impact that the fundraising will make for people’s lives, and the fact that Chiara’s legacy shines brighter each and every year.
Such beautiful angels are never forgotten.
I wouldn’t want others to be in the unfortunate situation we were in, so we are all for any fundraising we can help with or provide, especially for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Our fundraising helps a child in need, which in turn helps a family though those early dark days.
All up, Don and I have raised $25,000 and we’re hoping to raise much more.
Karen and her good friend, Don
We’re holding a trivia night down in Kyeemagh next month and that’s one way we help with fundraising. This will be the second year we’ve done it and it’s so much fun!
At last year’s trivia fundraiser, we had 140 people show up and raised over $6,000. I had moments of laughing so hard I was in tears, and actual tears because I was just so blown away by everyone’s generosity.
I hope we can do that again this year.
The Running for Premature Babies trivia night is on May 7 at 6pm at Sydney’s Kyeemagh RSL club. For tickets, you can purchase them through Karen at [email protected] or call 0409 982 127.
If you’d like to donate to Karen’s participation in this year’s half marathon, click here.
As told to Jacqui King.
