Dr Amy Robb is one of twenty runners donning a millipede costume when she takes part in the Flora London Marathon in two weeks' time.
Team organiser Roland Partridge, who works at the Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh, said:
"I thought of a millipede because we wanted to break the record for the biggest ever costume team to run in the marathon - we're raising money for the Touching Tiny Lives campaign, and because research into premature birth and pregnancy complications is such an under funded area, we wanted a big team to raise as much money as possible for the campaign. We also thought that you really can't miss a giant millipede, and that will help us bring attention to an area which is often forgotten."
Amy knows the importance of the Touching Tiny Lives campaign, which is run by the charity Action Medical Research, because she is currently working on a project taking place at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, funded by the charity to look into the causes of pre-eclampsia, with a view to eventually finding methods of prevention.
"If a woman has pre-eclampsia her baby sometimes does not grow well in the womb and early delivery may be unavoidable; which is potentially dangerous for the baby. This is a very exciting and tremendously important study. We are all so proud of Amy for working so hard to give something back to the charity which is supporting our work."
Amy's colleague Dr Fiona Denison
As a team, the millipede runners hope to raise £30,000 for the Touching Tiny Lives campaign, which aims to give all babies the very best start in life. Molly the millipede, as she is affectionately known, was out in Princes Street Garden in Edinburgh on Sunday, collecting funds for the campaign. If you want to sponsor Molly, visit the website on: www.marathonmillipede.com
Marathon cheering party
Help make Molly and everyone else's run a little bit easier!
Touching Tiny Lives Campaign
Read more about the campaign.
