Children’s health charity Action Medical Research is launching Walk for Tiny Lives this summer, a series of fun, family-friendly sponsored walks to raise vital funds for research into premature birth.

 

Taking place at locations across the UK, Walk for Tiny lives events are designed for mums, dads, grandparents and, of course, children. They offer a chance for the thousands of families in the UK who have been affected by premature birth – and the many more who simply care enough to want to help – to take positive action. The circular walks will be between 3-5km long and especially designed for young families to enjoy.

 

The charity is organising four main events across the country and it is hoped that additional smaller walks will be put in place by supporters, groups and other organisations that see this as a great way to have fun while supporting a worthwhile cause. The charity has developed a range of resources, all available to download online, for people who want to run their own Walk for Tiny Lives event.

 

Lewis Coghlin, Director of Fundraising at Action Medical Research, says: “It really is as easy as putting one foot in front of the other! By getting involved with Walk for Tiny Lives families can combine a great day out with doing something really positive that will make a huge difference to so many other families in the future.

 

“Over 50,000 babies are born prematurely every year in the UK, yet we still don’t know what causes it or how to prevent it happening. Please join us this summer and help support the millions of people in the UK who have been affected by premature birth – and the many more who care about it – to do something about it.”

 

Sadly, premature birth is the biggest cause of death and disability in babies under one in the UK. Action Medical Research is dedicated to funding research to reduce premature birth and is also supporting the search for new and better ways to care for babies who are sick and vulnerable following a difficult or early birth.

 

The charity is currently funding doctors who are investigating the causes of early labour and advancing the search for new treatments that could prevent or delay early birth.

 

To register to take part in a Walk for Tiny Lives event and for further information please visit www.walkfortinylives.org.uk

 

Organised walk dates are:

 

- Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, 4 July 2010

- East Coker Pavillion, near Yeovil, Somerset 10 July 2010

- Strathclyde Country Park, Lanarkshire, 12 September 2010

- Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds, 26 September 2010

 

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